THE 


MAID  OF  ORLEANS 


AN     HISTORICAL    TRAGEDY 


BY 

GEORGE    H.  CALVERT 


NEW  YORK 

P.  pntnnm'G   Gone 

1874 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  ve.ir  1871,  by 

GEORGE  H.  CALVERT, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington 


RIVRKSIDK,  CAMBRIDGE.  LANUE,  LITTLE  &  Co., 

H.  O.  HOUKHTOX  &  COMPANY.  ins  TO  114  WOOSTMR  STRFIT,  N. 


PERSONS   REPRESENTED. 


CHARLES  VII.,  King  of  France. 

THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS. 

DUKE  OF  ALENCON,          ) 

DUKE  OF  VENDO.ME,          j     Royal  Dukn. 

DUCHESS  OF  ALENCON,  AND  DAUGHTER. 

COUNTESS  OF  LIGNY,  AND  DAUGHTER. 

COUNT  DUNOIS,  BASTARD  OF  ORLEANS. 

COUNT  OF  ARMAGNAC, 

COUNT  GAUCOURT, 

LA  HIRE,  ^  French  Common  Jen. 

COARAZE. 

SAINTRAILLES, 

BAUDRICOURT, 

SIR  BERTRAND  DE  POUSENGIS. 

ROYAL  DUKE  OF  BEDFORD,  English  Viceroy  in  France. 

LORD  TALBOT, 

LORD  SUFFOLK, 

SIR  WILLIAM  BLUNT,          )>     English  Commanders. 

SIR  HERBERT  HAMPTON, 

SIR  HENRY  CLIFFORD, 

CARDINAL  WINCHESTER. 

ARCHBISHOP  OF  RHEIMS. 

BISHOP  OF  BEAUVAIS. 

ASSESSORS. 

OYSELEUR. 

BROTHERS  ISAMBART  AND  MARTIN. 

FATHER,  MOTHER,  UNCLE,  BROTHER,  of  the  Maid. 

Two  GENTLEMEN. 

Priests,  Knights,  Sergeants,  Heralds,  Citizens,  Soldiers. 

"SCENE  :  France  in  the  Fifteenth  Century. 

2OG21Q3 


THE    MAID    OF   ORLEANS. 

ACT   I. 

SCENE  I. 

Tiie  Royal  Residence  at  Chinon. 
THE  COUNT  OF  ARMAGNAC,  LA  HIRE. 

ARMAGNAC. 

Is't  true  that  Talbot's  with  the  curst  besiegers  ? 


That  it  is  true  sharpens  my  daily  pang 
For  the  besieged,  the  steadfast  Orleanese. 

ARMAGNAC. 

La  Hire,  to  you  I  speak  as  friend  to  friend : 
This  King  doth  sorely  try  a  proud  allegiance 
That  mine  will  bear  the  strain  I  cannot  say. 
Allegiance  voucheth  vigor  to  command. 
Who  would  swear  fealty  to  impotence  ? 


6  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  I. 

Can  vassal  bend  the  knee  to  lifeless  lord? 

France  bristles  with  perverse  hostilities, 

Rebellions,  feuds,  invasions,  sieges  fierce  ; 

The  whole  land  quakes  with  war's  mad  violations ; 

The  whole,  save   him  round  whom,  for  whom,  'gainst 

whom 

This  bloody  evolution  boils  and  flares  ; 
And  he  lolls  stagnant  on  a  lazy  couch. 
Did  we  not  see  it,  who'd  believe  'tis  so  ? 
Had  one  reported*that  but  yesterday, 
On  riding  through  the  forest  in  a  storm, 
He'd  seen  branch,  bough  and  spray  and  leaf  betossed 
Tumultuous  by  a  sudden  tempest's  rage, 
All  bending,  shrieking,  flying  'fore  the  wind, 
All  save  one  oak,  the  tallest  of  the  throng, 
And  he  stood  motionless  'mid  the  loud  whirl, 
No  sign  of  writhing  vigor  in  his  limbs,  — 
I  should  have  wondered  first,  and  then  exclaimed, 
That  oak  is  dead,  and  doth  usurp  the  room 
Which  should  resound  with  living:  roots  and  trunk. 


Par  Dieu,  my  noble  earl  of  Armagnac, 
You  utter  not  your  feeling  only,  nor 
Just  yours  and  mine.     All  of  our  nobles  here 
Suffer  as  you  do  ;  nay,  nor  gentleman 


SCENE  1.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS. 

Nor  roan  upon  this  sorely  smitten  soil, 

Who  feels  a  Frenchman  throb  within  his  breast, 

But  shames  him  for  the  royal  apathy, 

This  heart-paralysis  of  France's  power. 

Here  comes  Vendome,  fresh  from  his  Majesty. 

Enter  VENDOME. 
Well,  Duke,  what  are  our  cheeks  to  blush  for  next  ? 


Mine  blush  no  more  :  they  pale  with  anger  now. 

We're  all  the  victims  of  imbecile  fears. 

There  are  no  Talbots,  Salisburys,  Bedforcls,  Henrys 

There  is  no  starving  Orleans  close  besieged. 

The  King  —  and  who  should  know'if  he  does  not 

Talks  cheerful  by  the  hour  and  names  them  not. 

Good  God  !  that  our  dear  France  should  be  so  — 

Where  is  this  martial  damsel  from  Lorraine, 

The  people  whisper  of  so  hopefully? 

Naught  but  a  woman  can  arouse  this  sluggard. 

Out  of  his  weakness  we  may  build  a  strength. 


This  rumor  from  Lorraine  is  in  fulfillment 
Of  ancient  prophecies  ;  and  prophecies 
Themselves  oft  speed  their  own  accomplishment. 


8  THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  [  ACT  I- 

VENDOME. 

With  such  a  helmsman,  naught  but  miracle 
Can  save  us  from  being  quickly  overborne 
By  hateful  flood  of  English  conquerors. 

[Exeunt  severally. 


SCENE  II. 

On  the  edge  of  the  forest  of  Domremy,  near  a  fountain. 

THE  MAID  (on  her  knees). 
DIVINE  ye  must  be,  or  ye  would  not  speak 
Through  loved  seraphic  figures  clothed  in  light : 
Beings  so  beautiful  come  straight  from  heaven. 
The  many  years  I've  heard  ye,  yet,  each  hearing 
Thrills  me  with  deeper  awe.     My  life  is  changed. 
By  your  celestial  tune  I  have  been  won 
Afar  from  this  to  live  in  the  great  thoughts 
You  have  awakened,  and  from  year  to  year 
So  nursed,  they've  filled  me  with  a  mighty  future. 
Joan,  O  Joan  !  can  it  be  ?  —  Ha  !  there  they  arc  ! 

VOICE  (from  above). 

Joan,  chosen  wast  thou  for  thy  aptness.     Blest 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  9 

Above  all  maidens  is  thy  peerless  portion  — 
To  be  the  savior  of  thy  country,  wreckt 
But  for  thy  pilotage.     The  time  is  come. 
Go  to  Sir  Baudricourt  at  Vaucouleurs. 
He  to  the  King  will  send  thee,  and  the  King 
Cohorts  will  marshal  under  thee,  the  siege 
To  raise  of  Orleans.     Thence  thou'lt  bring  the  King 
To  Rheims,  there  to  be  crowned  :  and  France  is  saved. 
[T/ie  MAID  falls  prostrate  on  the  ground. 

Enter  the  MAID'S  MOTHER,  not  perceiving  JOAN. 


Poor  Joan  !  they  are  seeking  her  to  drive  her  into 
marriage.  Such  matches  should  not  be.  Mismatches 
we  have  too  many,  even  where  the  will  goes  with  them. 
Against  the  will,  they're  of  the  Devil.  But  Joan  will 
not  yield  ;  and  then  her  father  storms,  and  we  all  bend 
before  his  rage,  excepting  Joan.  In  common  things 
you'd  think  she  had  no  will,  docile  as  is  my  wheel  unto 
my  hand.  A  strange  dear  child  it  is  :  where  can  she 
be? 

Enter  JOAN'S  FATHER,  with  her  lover  and  the  CURATE. 


Where  is  Joan  ? 


[O  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  I. 

MOTHER. 

Ha  !  there  she  is  on  the  ground.      Joan  !  Joan  ! 

[  The  MAID  raises  herself  on  her  knees. 

My  dear  child !  I  feared  thou  had'st  been  struck  by 
lightning. 

MAID. 

Mother,  the  sky  is  clear  of  clouds.     A  light, 
Brighter  than  lightning,  streamed  but  now  before  me. 

FATHER  {coming forward). 

Again  these  foolish  visions.  Joan,  thou  wast  always 
dutiful  :  now  thou  troublest  thy  father's  peace.  How 
is  it  thou  art  suddenly  so  dogged  ?  Obey  thy  parents  : 
we  know  best  what  is  for  thy  good  :  we  wish  thee  well 
married  ;  and  here  is  Oliver,  worthy  of  thee,  and  has 
some  claim  on  thee. 

MAID  (rising]. 

Dares  he  to  say  he  has  a  claim  on  me? 

OLIVER  (coming forward). 

Is  not  my  love  a  claim,  a  love  as  strong 

As  ever  warmed  the  breast  of  man  for  woman  ? 

MAID. 
I  told  thee  'twas  in  vain  :•  it  could  not  be. 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  \  1 

FATHER. 

I  say,  it  shall  be.  What  are  \ve  come  to  ?  Shall 
green,  unfurnished  girls  cry  yea  or  nay  against  their 
parents'  plans  ?  Make  thee  ready  to  be  wedded  to 
Oliver. 

MAID. 

Father,  it  cannot  be  :  it  must  not  be. 

FATHER. 

Barest  thou  disobey  thy  father's  will  ? 


I  have  two  fathers :  which  shall  I  obey  ? 
My  earthly  or  my  Heavenly  Father's  will  ? 
My  Heavenly  Father  — 

CURATE. 

Joan,  that  will  not  stead  thee 
Thy  Heavenly  Father  speaks  to  thee  through  me. 

MAID. 

When  thou'rt  not  by,  can  He  not  come  to  me  ? 
Is  his  will  reined  by  thee,  or  thine  by  Him  ?' 

CURATE. 
How  dost  thou  know  if  He  does  speak  to  thee  ? 


12  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  |Acr  I. 

MAID. 

By  twice  the  craft  I  know  when  thou  dost  speak ; 

By  outward,  and  by  inward  finer  sense. 

The  world,  is't  not  by  unseen  power  governed  ? 

Power  is  nowhere  but  in  the  invisible. 

All  else  is  only  plastic  instrument. 


Joan,  thou  hast  lost  thy  wits.  What  know'st  thou  of 
these  high  things?  A  senseless  tingling  in  thy  ears 
thou  tak'st  for  angel  voices. 

CURATE. 

Leave  her  to  me.     I'll  find  a  happy  hour 
To  exorcise  the  Devil  who  now  sits 
Master  of  spell-bound  fancy  in  her  brain. 

FATHER. 

Come,  Oliver.     She'll  recover  under  the  Curate's  doc- 
toring :  you'll  have  her  better-minded  in  a  week. 

[Exeitnt  FATHER,  CURATE,  and  OLIVER, 

MOTHER. 

O  Joan,  my  child,  my  dearest  child,  wherefor 
Art  thou  so  rooted  in  thy  willfulness  ? 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS. 

MAID. 

Mother,  I  cannot  otherwise.     The  things 

I  have  been  used  to,  grow  unwonted  to  me. 

My  life  is  other  than  it  was  :  'tis  now 

In  new,  great  thoughts,  deeds  greater,  that  so  fill, 

So  swell  my  being,  myself  I  know  no  more. 

A  higher  self  I  am,  the  servitor 

Of  angels. 

MOTHER. 

O  my  child,  how  canst  thou  know  ? 
The  Curate  says,  they  are  temptations,  speech 
Feigned  by  the  Devil,  these  thy  saintly  voices. 


Mother,  how  can  he  know  ?     He  has  not  heard  them. 

Heard  them  have  I  ;  the  heads,  woven  of  light, 

Have  seen,  whence  issue  their  profound  commands. 

Limits,  God-planted,  are  there  to  disguise. 

Uplifting  thoughts  the  Devil  never  prompts, 

Nor  whets  th'  exalted  soul  to  sacrifice. 

He  moves  us  love  ourselves,  our  lustful  wants ; 

He  tells  where  hidden  treasure  may  be  dug, 

Or  flatters  us  with  sensual  heritage. 

Our  souls,  dear  mother,  are  not  of  the  Devil : 

Mine  meets  these  voices  with  an  answering  glow, 

Lifts  it  to  them  with  liveliest,  warmest  trust. 


14  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  I. 

Within  the  best  and  deepest  of  my  soul 

I  feel,  they  come  from  God,  are  tuned  to  good. 

MOTHER. 

Thy  looks,  thy  words,  proclaim  thee  child  no  more : 
Thou'rt  shot  up  to  ripe  woman  in  a  day. 

Enter  the  MAID'S  UNCLE. 

UNCLE. 

What  is't  I  hear  ?     They'd  wed  thee  'gainst  thy  will  ? 

MAID. 

Dear  uncle,  that  they  must  not,  cannot  do. 
But  I'm  rejoiced  you're  come.     To  Vaucouleurs 
I  must  at  once. 

UNCLE. 

Again  thou'st  heard  them  speak  ? 


Within  an  hour;  and  hen.ce  I  go  to-day. 
And  thou'll  go  with  me  ? 


That  I  will,  dear  Joan. 

Thy  voices  speak  to  me  through  thee.     In  them 
I  trust,  because  I've  faith  in  thee. 


.  SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  15 

MOTHER. 

Brother, 
The  Curate  says  they're  from  the  Devil. 


Sister, 

Curates  are  not  infallible.     The  promptings 
Of  a  sound  heart,  pure,  innocent  like  hers, 
With  heavenly  will  are  more  in  unison, 
Than  the  dry  hackneyed  say  of  thousand  curates. 
Most  priestly  words  are  too  mechanical, 
Too  emptied  of  the  freer  life,  that  they 
Should  carry  messages  from  the  upper  realms. 
Come,  Joan ;  'tis  two  leagues  hence  to  Little  Bury, 
And  I  would  be  at  home  ere  set  of  sun. 


Mother,  O  mother !  I  must  leave  thee  ;  yea, 

I  must ;  must  quit  my  home,  my  dear,  dear  home. 

These  trees,  this  fountain,  and  my  church,  —  the  church 

Which  is  another  daily  home  to  me,  — 

My  flocks  and  meadows,  and  my  happy  comrades,  — 

All,  all  I  leave  forever.     Ha  !     Forever  ?  — 

My  brain  seems  trampled  on  by  marching  legions  : 

Plainly  as  ere  I  heard  thy  tender  voice, 

I  hear  the  blows  and  cries  of  battling  hosts : 


1 6  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  I 

Now  shouts  of  victory  ;    now  silent  joy  ; 

Now  shadows  come  :    they  pass  away  :    again 

The  clash  of  arms  :    now,  what  a  jubilee. 

More  shadows  —  more,  and  deeper  —  black,  how  black ! 

They  fold  me  in  !     There,  there,  they  break  again. 

O  what  a  splendor  !    what  a  glory  !     Where, 

Where  am  I  ?  —  Mother  !  come,  mother  ! 

[Exeunt ;  the  MAID,  with  an  arm  round  her  MOTHER'S  neck. 


SCENE  III. 

Vauconleurs.      Head-quarters    of  the    Military    Com- 
mander, Sir  Baudricourt. 

SIR  BAUDRICOURT,  two  officers,  and  SIR  BERTRAND  DE  Pous- 
ENGIS,  a  friend  of  SIR  B. 

SIR   BERTRAND. 

Captain,  I  fear  to  ask  of  news  from  Orleans. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

Deep  hearts  have  they,  those  manful  Orleanese, 
That  from  them  they  can  still  clip  drops  of  hope. 
Beleaguered,  mined,  bombarded,  starved,  and  stormed, 
They  yield  them  not,  but  supplicate  for  aid, 
Which  never  comes. 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  17 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

Whence  can  it  come?     The  King 
Has  neither  men  nor  means ;  his  chiefs  rebellious, 
Allies  faithless  ;  and  as  his  enemies 
Grow  hot,  his  friend  of  Burgundy  grows  cool. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

Shrewd  Burgundy  goes  ever  with  the  strongest ; 
And  that  might  we  be  had  our  King  a  will. 
A  thoughtful,  earnest  will  creates  its  means ; 
Kindles  the  cold,  quickens  the  slow,  spurs  all. 
Armed  men  start  from  the  earth  at  hearted  cry  ; 
Obedience  follows  will  with  votive  smiles, 
And  allies  troop  to  its  side  with  eager  trust. 
But  indolence,  though  regal,  hath  no  will  ; 
And  from  its  rotting  couch  of  luxury 
Looseness  crawls  forth  upon  the  hapless  land, 
Where  nothing  holds  together,  naught  is  tight 
And  practicable  ;  and  the  nation  sways 
From  side  to  side,  like  to  a  drunken  man, 
Whose  limbs  cannot  obey  a  staggering  mind. 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

The  people  hereabout  have  nursed  a  rumor, 
Which  was  but  vague  and  unregarded  thin, 
Till  wide  despair  hath  fed  it  into  plumpness: 


1 8  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr 

A  prophecy  of  Merlin,  —  that  should  spring 
From  rich  Lorraine  a  maid  to  save  dear  France. 


SIR   BAUDRICOURT. 

We  must  be  near  to  drowning  when  we  catch 
At  mouldy  straws. 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

Good  friend,  this  air  we  breathe 
Is  the  same  air  that  ancient  Merlin  breathed, 
Fed  by  the  earth  and  sun,  same  earth  and  sun 
That  feed  it  now  for  us.     Upon  this  air 
Not  bodies  only  but'our  souls  are  kept, 
Inbreathing  aye  a  subtler,  wiser  life 
Than  that  which  arms  our  eye  to  conquer  space. 
Hereby  so  is  our  being  interfused 
With  the  divine,  that  from  the  Source  of  all 
Monitions  come,  that  make  some  natures  prescient. 

Enter  an  ATTENDANT. 

ATTENDANT. 

Here  is  a  peasant,  sir,  who  begs  to  see  you. 

SIR   BAUDRICOURT. 

Admit  him. 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  19 

Enter  the  MAID'S  UNCLE. 
What's  your  want  ? 


Sir  Baudricourt, 

My  niece,  a  peasant  girl  from  Domremy, 
A  pious,  gentle  child,  hath,  sir,  a  message 
She  would  herself  deliver  to  your  ear. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

Know  you  its  purport,  and  from  whom  it  is  ? 


The  girl,  sir,  talks  and  looks  and  bears  herself 
Like  one  inspired.     For  several  years,  she  says, 
She  has  heard  voices,  seen  at  times  the  forms 
Of  th'  angels  whence  they  issued.     Yesterday 
They  told  her  she's  to  be  her  country's  savior  — 

SIR  BAUDRICOURT. 

Sir  Bertrand,  here's  old  Merlin's  Lorraine  lady. 

SIR    BERTRAND. 

Depend  on't,  this  is  something  more  than  strange. 


20  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  I. 

UNCLE. 

They  ordered  her  to  come  at  once  to  you  ; 
They  said  that  you  would  send  her  to  the  King, 
The  King  would  give  her  men  to  raise  the  siege 
Of  Orleans ;  thence  to  Rheims,  there  to  be  crowned. 

SIR    BERTRAND. 

What  is  the  daily  humor  of  her  life  ? 

UNCLE. 

A  sheer  exalted  self-forgetful  ness. 

So  modest,  all  her  doing  is  obedience, 

Now  to  her  angel -voices,  as  before 

To  father,  mother,  and  the  parish  priest ; 

All  ardent  impulses  so  clean  of  self, 

Her  hourly  life  seems  but  a  supplement 

To  other  lives;  her  office  helpfulness. 

Pardon  me,  sir;  from  the  clear  child  I've  caught 

Some  of  the  glow  of  rapture. 

SIR    BERTRAND. 

Is  she  here 
In  Vaucouleurs  ? 

UNCLE. 

She  is.     'Tis  not  an  hour 
I  left  her  weeping,  wringing  of  her  hands, 


SCENE  III.]        THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  21 

Because,  she  says,  to-day,  this  very  noon, 
The  French  are  beaten  in  a  fight  near  Orleans. 

SIR  BERTRAND  (taking  out  his  tablets). 

The  first,  is't  not,  Sir  Robert  ? 

SIR   BAUDRICOURT. 

Aye,  of  April. 

Good  man,  take  back  your  niece  to  Domremy. 
Hard  work  on  bread  and  water  is  a  cure, 
The  surest  she  can  have  for  her  disease. 
Sometimes  such  cracks  i'th'  brain  are  through  the  back 
Most  quickly  mended.     Flagellation's  smart 
Works  wonders. 

SIR    BERTRAND. 

Come,  bring  me  to  this  maid. 

[Exeunt  SIR  BERTRAND  and  UNCLE. 


22  THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT    I. 

SCENE   IV. 
Public  Square  at  Orleans. 

Men,  women,  children,  sad,  haggard,  poorly  dressed,  some  ragged. 
At  the  corner  of  the  stage,  a  bureau  for  giving  out  rations. 

WOMAN  (with  basket  or  kettle,  to  the  man  serving  in 
the  bureau).  Is  that  all  you  can  give  me  to-day  ?  I 
had  but  half  allowance  yesterday. 

BUREAU.  Our  stock  is  low,  grows  daily  less  and  less, 
and  no  hope  for  more. 

WOMAN.  My  two  boys,  one  sixteen,  the  other  fourteen, 
are  on  the  walls,  doing  the  duty  of  men. 

ist  CITIZEN  (to  the  bureau).  Give  her  half  of  my 
share  :  such  a  mother  must  not  starve. 

WOMAN.  May  God  bless  you  and  your  children.  {The 
man  of  the  bureau  gives  her  more.)  This  will  go  to 
double  the  strength  of  my  soldier  sons. 

Enter  a  Soldier. 

ist  CITIZEN.  What  news  bring'st  thou  ? 

SOLDIER.  Bad  news  :  more  English  are  coming. 

ist  CIT.     And  no  French  ?     Where  is  the  King  ? 

2d  CIT.  The  King  is  no  king:  his  seat  is  not  the 
throne,  but  the  lap  of  a  mistress. 

ist  CIT.  If  no  succor  comes,  soon,  we  must  starve 
or  surrender. 


SCENE  IV.]  THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  23 

YOUNG  WOMAN  (with  infant  in  her  arms,  coming 
forward}.  Surrender  !  Rather  than  that  thy  sweet 
rosy  flesh  shall  shrink  upon  thy  bones,  and  thou  grow 
pale  and  cold,  clinging  to  my  milkless  breast.  Ha  !  he 
smiles  and  looks  to  heaven.  Thou  shall  not  die  :  thou 
shalt  live,  to  fight  for  France. 

SOLDIER.  Strange  rumors  there  are  of  a  Maid  who* 
is  to  be  the  savior  of  Orleans. 

YOUNG  WOMAN.  Who  has  seen  her?  Whence  comes 
she? 

ist  CIT.  From  Heaven  she  must  come  ;  for  the 
earth  and  all  who  are  on  it  have  abandoned  us. 

Enter  a  Citizen  in  haste. 

CITIZEN.  To  the  walls  !  To  the  walls  !  The  enemy 
are  advancing  on  the  west. 

ist  CITIZEN.  To  arms  !  to  arms  !  A  moment  since 
I  was  ripe  for  cold  despair.  The  battling  English  re- 
warm  my  heart.  Away  with  despondency !  Come, 
comrades !  We'll  woo  the  King  with  our  courage. 
From  the  blood  we  sow  to-day  we  shall  reap  succor 
next  week.  Succor  must  come  ;  it  must.  On,  then, 
comrades,  once  more  to  the  walls  !  Beat  back  the 
enemy,  and  then  over  his  head  we  will  look  jubilant 
from  our  ramparts  far  away  upon  France,  and  hope. 
\Exit,  followed  by  citizens  shouting  "  To  the  walls  !  to  the  walls  !  " 


24  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  I. 

SCENE    V. 
Vaucouleurs. 

Head-quarters  of  Sir  Baudricourt. 
SIR  BAUDRKOURT  aud  two  officers.     To  them  cuter  SIR  BER- 

TRAND  DE   PoUSENGIS. 
SIR    BERTRAND. 

Again  I  come,  Sir  Baudricourt,  to  pray, 
Admit  this  maid  for  one  brief  interview. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

What  will  it  boot  ?     A  question  this  of  faith, 
Of  naught  but  faith.     A  sheer  impertinence 
Is  she  to  one  who  can't  believe  in  her. 
It  irks  me,  friend,  to  hear  her  even  named  ; 
The  sight  of  her  would  anger  me,  extort 
Rude  speech,  belike,  such  as  a  gentleman 
Forbids  his  tongue  when  speaking  to  a  woman. 

SIR    BERTRAND. 

When  first  she  came  she  was,  to  fullest  heads 

An  insolence,  to  most  a  disbelief. 

Within  a  short  two  weeks  she's  won  them  all ; 


SCENE  V.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  2$ 

Won  them,  not  by  performing  miracles, 

But  by  the  wonder  of  her  daily  life, 

So  simple,  pure,  and  freshly  serviceable, 

It  cleanses  thought  to  see  and  hear  and  know  her. 

Enter.the  MAID,  suddenly. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

What  ho  !    my  sentinels  ! 

MAID. 

Nor  sentinels, 

Nor  your  strong  bent  can  stay  me.     Keys  I  bear 
To  unlock  your  closest  orders. 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

Officers, 

Do  you  the  duty  those  false  watchmen  weak 
Have  failed  to  do. 

[  The  two  officers  approach  to  seize  her.     She  waves  them   back , 

they  pause. 

By  Heaven !  I'll  break  this  charm. 

MAID. 

Tis  not  a  charm,  Sir  Baudricourt.     Wherefor 
To  me  hath  fallen  this  signal  part  I  know  not. 


26  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  I 

It  saddens  me  more  than  it  cheers.     Obey 

I  must  what  is  above  me.     So,  yourself. 

You  speak  and  act  from  what  to  you  cloth  seem 

Pure  self-impulsion  ;  but  there  is  behind 

That  impulse  what  is  its  far  primal  fount, 

A  might  unseen,  which  all  your  motions  moves. 

Life,  death,  can  you  control  them,  you  or  I  ? 

And  yet  they  are  controlled.     Your  instruments 

You  choose :   shall  God  not  choose  his  own  ?     By  men 

The  world  seems  ruled  :  men  are  his  instruments. 

The  best,  the  freest  human  instruments 

Are  they  who  on  themselves  think  least,  and  burn 

The  self  to  fuel  flames  shall  light  the  way 

To  fertile  principles,  deep  truths,  great  causes. 

Pardon  me  ;  I  am  startled  at  myself, 

My  speech.     I  know  me  not.     This  friendly  ground 

Scarce  do  I  feel  its  pressure  on  my  sole. 

I  seem  to  skim  the  earth,  to  tread  on  air, 

Borne  lightly  forward  by  a  will  not  mine, 

Which  you  nor  I  nor  any  one  can  baffle. 

Enter  in  haste  a  booted,  spattered  courier,  and  gives  a  package  to  SIR 
BAUDRICOURT,  -who  hurriedly  opens  it. 

SIR   BAUDRICOURT. 

The  King  hath  lost  another  battle. 


SCENE  V.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  2J 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

When  ? 

SIR  BAUDRICOURT. 

At  noon  the  first  of  April.     What  of  that? 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

Have  you  forgotten  how  this  maiden's  uncle, 
The  day  he  came  to  beg  an  interview, 
Told  she  was  weeping  then  for  battle  lost? 

SIR    BAUDRICOURT. 

Aye,  aye,  I  do  remember  ;  and  you  set 

The  date  upon  your  tablets.     What  tell  they? 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

Whate'er  they  tell  is  from  my  memory  gone, 
But  they  will  give  full  echo  of  that  hour. 
Read  their  report. 

\  Takes  out  his  tablets  and  gives  them, 

SIR  BAUDRICOURT  (reads). 

"  At  noon  the  first  of  April." 
'Tis  strange  ! 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

The  air  can  carry  messages 


28  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  |Acr  I. 

Swifter  than  e'en  a  royal  estafette. 
My  friend,  man's  fullest  knowledge  is  as  yet 
Small  fraction  fine  of  what  there  is  to  draw 
From  the  deep  quarries  of  the  universe, 
The  happy  harvestings  of  rich  futurity. 

SIR   BAUDRICOURT. 

Further :  the  King  bids  me  send  him  the  maid. 


Send  me  at  once.     Dear  Orleans  is  in  tears. 
The  ruthless  English  close  their  claws  upon  her. 
France  is  impatient  to  be  saved. 

SIR  BERTRAM). 

High  maid, 

Myself  and  the  good  knight  of  Novelompont, 
Each  with  a  trusty  squire,  we  are  to  be 
Your  escort  and  your  guard.     The  way  is  long, 
And  rough  with  clangers. 


Brave  Sir  Bertrand,  thou 
Art  one  of  those  elected  happiest  men 
Who  list  to  suck  their  sap  from  virtuous  deeds. 
But,  for  the  dangers  of  our  coming  journey, 


SCENE  V.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  29 

Give  them  no  heed.     They  who  commissioned  me ' 
To  this  momentous  work,  hold  in  their  hands 
Enough  continuous  pliant  threads  of  life 
To  steer  us  through  this  angry  labyrinth. 
Let  me  be  gone  at  once,  Sir  Baudricourt. 
Minutes  weigh  upon  France  like  heaviest  hours, 
So  sleepless  is  the  time  with  desolation. 

\Exeunt. 


ACT    II. 

SCENE   I. 
The  Royal  Residence  at  Chinon. 

King  CHARLES  VII.,  the  royal  Dukes  of  ALENCON  a 
DOME,  Count  DUNOIS,  bastard  of  Orleans,  the  Counts  of  ARMAG- 
NAC  and  of  GAUCOURT,  LA  HIRE,  BERTRAND  DE  TOUSENGIS. 

KING. 

I  KNOW  not,  gentlemen,  that  I  can  put 
The  purpose  of  this  Council  into  words, 
And  stay  a  smile  from  pertly  wheeling  them 
From  dutiful  intent  of  seriousness. 
The  question  is,  shall  we  admit  to-day, 
As  active  party  to  our  consultation 
On  plans  of  war  and  policy,  a  girl, 
That  girl  a  peasantess,  untutored,  raw  ; 
But  still,  a  girl  who  makes  pretension  to 
Angelic  guidance,  and  hath  won  the  heart, 
Not  solely  of  the  ruder  multitude, 
But  sundry  of  the  wisest  men  and  women. 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  3 1 

ALENCON. 

My  Liege,  for  one,  were  I  disposed  to  smile, 
The  guardian  Angels  of  our  France  (if  they 
Have  not  upflown  to  Heaven,  deserting  us, 
Wrath-lifted  at  our  mad  self-immolation), 
They,  if  they  hover  near,  would  with  a  blow, 
Aye,  with  a  blow  from  their  invisible  hands, 
Smash  on  my  lips  such  smile, —  a  smile  sardonic, 
While  prostrate  France  gasps  forth  ensanguined  groans. 
My  Liege,  lest  something  come  to  save  us  soon, 
We're  lost,  and  must  flee  toward  our  southern  coast, 
Flight  ignominious,  self-destructive,  base. 
Admit  this  Maid  :  hear  what  she  has  to  say  : 
Hope  springs  fresh  fountains  in  extremity. 


Your  Majesty,  the  Duke  of  Alengon 
Thickens  the  blackness  of  the  time  o'ermuch. 
Methinks,  gross  as  it  is,  unblenching  swords 
Can  cut  a  path  to  clearer  distances. 

ALEN£ON. 

Can  Count  Dunois  hew  him  a  track  to  Orleans 
Through  th'  English  legions  that  enfold  and  clutch 
That  sparkling  royal  gem  ;  and  thus  re-earn 
The  lofty  title  that  he  wears? 


32  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  II. 

DUNOIS. 

Most  true, 

Orleans  is  our  last  hope.     Give  me  the  men, 
And  I  will  pledge  me  here  to  raise  its  siege. 

ALENCON. 

Ha !  whence  will  swarm  the  needed  men  ?  for  French- 
men, 
Brave  as  they  are,  can't  fight  unfed,  unclad. 

GAUCOURT. 

I  have  no  faith,  my  Liege,  in  women-warriors. 
But  let  us  see  this  Maid.     She's  beautiful, 
'Tis  said  ;  and  beauty  fires  a  Frenchman's  heart. 

ARMAGNAC. 

Your  Majesty,  here  is  a  gentleman, 

Sir  Bertrand  de  Pousengis,  who  can  tell, 

It  may  be,  something  of  this  peasant  girl. 

KfNG. 

Sir  Bertrand,  speak  what  you  have  learnt  or  know. 

SIR   BERTRAND. 

Your  Majesty,  this  Maid  of  Domremy 
I  have  escorted  all  the  perilous  way 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  33 

From  Vaucouleurs,  enlisted  by  my  faith,  — 
A  faith,  born  when  I  first  beheld  her  there, 
Fed  daily  by  the  beaming  saintliness 
Of  a  demeanor,  where  a  manlike  force 
So  quickened  maiden  tenderness,  all  hearts 
Were  boldened  by  a  wise  activity, 
Her  words   and  deeds  falling  upon  the  people 
A  showered  benediction  from  above. 
Amid  the  city's  heated  stir  she  shone 
Modest  as  moon  new-hung  in  cloud-flecked  sky. 
This  fortnight  past,  threading  the  forest  paths,— 
Which  had  been  weary  both  and  dangerous, 
But  for  the  constant  light  of  her  fair  aspect 
And  the  sure  prescience  of  her  dispositions,  — 
She  was  the  guardian  of  her  harnessed  guards, 
The  comforter  of  th'  oft  discouraged  escort. 
I  claim  some  knowledge  of  the  wondrous  Maid. 
Through  tangled  travel  was  I  at  her  side 
By  day  and  night.     I  see  a  sudden  smile, 
My  lords,  brighten  your  bronzed  visages  ; 
But  know,  that  to  my  thought,  not  reverenced  child. 
Nor  sister  sacred,  nor  soul's  image  of 
Divine  perfection,  could  be  flanked  about 
By  firmer  rampart  of  high  chastity, 
Than  this  poor  peasant  girl  of  Domremy, 
Her  citadel  an  inward  heavenliness. 
3 


34  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  II. 

I  vow  myself  her  servant  knight,  almost 
I'd  said  her  worshipper,  so  good  she  is, 
So  wise,  so  pure,  so  true. 


By  Heaven,  Sir  Bertrand, 
You  are  a  noble,  chivalrous  gentleman. 
Go  bring  your  wondrous  maiden  to  our  presence. 

[Exil  SIR  BERTRAND. 
Dunois,  take  you  my  seat. 

[The  KING  descends  from  the  throne,  and  DUNOIS  seats  him- 
self tkcreoti. 

She  knows  us  not : 
We'll  try  her  promptly  at  her  first  approach. 

GAUCOURT. 

Give  her  such  shriving  drench,  my  lord  Dunois, 
That  she  shall  need  confessor  never  more. 


If  her  bragged  angels  be  not  forced  to  lay 
Their  plumeless  pinions  drooping  at  my  feet, 
And  she  to  offer  penance  for  her  fraud, 
May  I  ne'er  hark  for  bugle  blast  again. 

Reenter  SIR  BERTRAND  with  the  MAID. 
Well.  Shepherdess,  what  is  your  will  with  me  ? 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  35 

MAID. 

Not  unto  you,  Bastard  of  Orleans,  is 
My  homage  owed.     My  Liege  is  here. 

[Kneeling  before  1'ie  KING. 

Great  King. 

By  that  mysterious  Wisdom  which,  through  depths,  — 
To  a  frail  mortal  ken  unfathomable,  — 
Chooses  its  instruments  at  times  among 
The  lowliest  born,  to  you  I'm  sent  that  I 
Be  your  chief  servant  in  extremity, 
Ordered,  empowered,  to  raise  the  siege  of  Orleans, 
And  then  to  lead  you  to  be  crowned  at  Rheims. 

KING. 
You  speak  not  like  a  rustic  peasant  girl. 

MAID. 

I  am  a  rustic  peasant  girl  no  more. 
Why  me  and  not  another  they  have  sent 
At  this  distressful  moment,  that  I  know  not. 
Of  God's  true  purposes  (in    fostering  which 
He  useth  angels,  who  in  turn  use  us) 
Only  by  inward  watch  upon  ourselves, 
And  honest  outward  look,  can  we  learn  aught, 
Becoming  quicker,  better  learners  we, 
The  deeper  is  our  childlike  innocence ; 


36  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS,  [ACT  IL 

For  as  with  light  He  permeates  the  air, 
So  does  He  interfuse  with  finer  beam 
The  souls  of  men  clean  passive  to  his  will. 

[As  the  MAID  in  speaking  these  lines  becomes  rapt,  looking  up- 
ward, the  KING  steps  a  little  back  from  her  in  astonishment 
and  admiration.  Some  of  the  lords  do  the  same 

KING. 

Your  words  are  higher  than  I'm  wont  to  hear. 
That  you  by  instinct  knew  Dunois  and  me, 
Is  much  ;  but  I  would  hold  a  subtler  proof 
Of  the  supernal  friends  you  claim  to  have. 

MAID. 

Your  Majesty  shall  be  full  satisfied. 
First  bid  these  gentlemen  to  stand  aloof. 

[  The  KING  and  MAID  go  to  one  side,  the  lords  to  the  other. 

ARMAGNAC. 

So  many  are  the  sins  he  hath  to  score, 
'Twill  easy  be  to  guess  at  one  or  two. 


See,  see :  the  King  is  startled  —  turneth  pale. 
She  plies  him  further  :  why,  he  looks  subdued. 


SCENE  I.J          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  37 

YEN  DOME. 

He  is  by  far  too  much  subdued  already. 
If  she'll  put  life  and  courage  into  him, 
I  shall  believe  she  is  by  angels  backed. 

KING  {coming  fortvard). 

This  Maid  hath  plucked  a  secret  from  my  heart, 
A  secret,  guarded  with  such  lively  watch, 
It  never  had  been  breathed  to  living  ear, 
Or  whispered  of  by  lips  until  by  hers. 
It  frightens  me  to  think  this  mystery  could 
By  any  one  be  known  except  myself. 
Strange  gifts  she  hath,  more  than  are  natural. 
I  will  consult  the  Bishops  ;  they  will  know. 
Meanwhile,  Duke  Alei^on,  take  charge  of  her ; 
And  treat  her  as  becomes  your  dignity. 

[Exeunt KING  and  lords,  except  ALENCON  a»</SiR  BERTRAM*. 

ALENCON. 

Lieutenant,  conduct  her  to  my  quarters.     Say 
To  the  Duchess,  I  commend  to  kindest  care 
This  Maid.  (To  the  MAID.)  In  her  already  you've  a 
friend. 

[Exit  MAID  with  Lieutenant. 
Delay,  delay  ;  ever  a  putting  off. 
Thriftless  postponement  is  the  kingly  home, 
His  petted  palace,  rounded  with  the  soft 


33  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  II. 

And  perfumed  pillows  of  luxuriousness. 

His  acts  of  kingly  duty  and  renown 

Are  in  a  future  which  he  never  grasps, 

That  virtuous  time  aye  smothered  in  his  sloth. 

And  hence  the  wreck  of  France  ;  for  war's  success 

With  lazy  laggardness  is  conjugal, 

As  stealthy  darkness  with  ingenuous  day. 

SIR  BERTRAND. 

That  lordly  France  should  be  so  buffeted  ! 
Dear  bleeding  France,  pale  with  the  loss  of  drops 
That  redden  lifted  arms  of  enemies. 
Yet  Orleans  must  be  quick  relieved. 

ALENCON. 

By  whom  ? 

The  King  hath  lost  the  power  to  command  ; 
His  captains  loyal  temper  to  obey ; 
And  the  poor,  trampled,  scourged,  abandoned  people, 
AH  confidence  in  both,  all  faith,  all  hope. 
Bloody  destruction  glares  upon  the  kingdom, 
Croaking  malicious  at  our  helplessness. 

SIR    HKRTRAND. 

Pardon,  Duke  Alengon  ;  I'll  comfort  you. 
Were  Vaucouleurs,  where  she  abode  a  fortnight, 
But  a  league  hence,  you'd  see  her  compassed  round 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  39 

By  men  armed  to  the  teeth,  each  at  his  cost, 

So  did  she  swell  all  hearts  with  forward  zeal, 

Blow  into  them  her  martial  spirit's  breath. 

And  thus  'twill  soon  be  here.     She's  a  born  leader,  — 

And  more  than  that. 

ALENCON. 

Then  France  may  yet  be  saved. 
Transcendent  breath  at  times  so  breathes  its  life 
Into  selected  soul,  from  this  new  might 
Men  courage  gather,  as  from  impulses 
Inflamed  by  a  descended  God. 

[Ex,  unt, 

SCENE  II. 

Residence  of  the  Duke  of  Alenfon,  at  Chinon. 
Th*  DUCHESS  OF  ALENCON  and  her  daughter  EMILY,  aged  fifteen 

EMILY. 

Mother,  why  does  she  keep  away  so  long  ? 

DUCHESS. 

She  undergoes  sharp  trial  now  at  Poictiers, 
By  hoary  councilors  and  priests,  to  learn 
Whether  she  be  from  God  or  th'  evil  one. 


40  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IT. 

EMILY. 

Mother,  she  cannot  be  from  th'  evil  one : 
I  never  feel  so  good  as  when  with  her. 

DUCHESS. 

Surer  than  all  this  conclave's  cognizance 
Is  that  as  voucher  for  a  pedigree. 
If  thy  pure  pulses  be  still  purified 
By  her  strong  breathing,  she  must  be  from  heaven, 
Aye,  and  from  heaven's  most  heavenly  circles  sent. 
Methinks  some  women  interspersed  could  piece 
The  Council's  judgment  out  to  sounder  wholeness: 
Some  succor  from  her  peers  this  Maid  should  have. 

EMILY. 

From  Poictiers  yesterday  there  was  no  courier: 
Is't  not  a  sign  that  father's  coming  home  ? 

DUCHESS. 

Ha  !  here  he  is. 

Enter  tke  DUKE  OF  ALENCON. 

And  good  news  on  his  face. 

ALENCON. 

The  best :  she's  cleared.  The  Council  has  pronounced, 
Swayed  by  the  King  and  people.     As  'twas  here, 


SCENE  II.]        THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  41 

So  too  at  Poictiers :  her  great  heart  enclasps, 

Enfoldeth,  melts   all    hearts,  men,  women,  children, 

A'l  warmly  won  ;  as  though  the  puissant  air 

Were  suddenly  inflammable,  and  she 

A  torch,  that  where  she  comes  it  flameth  wide, 

Thawing  the  frozen  courage  of  the  land, 

Giving  impetuous  motions  as  of  old. 

Men  are  all  soul  ;  forget  their  bodies  ;  weep 

With  Frenchmen's  joy.     The  King,  even  the  lords, 

The  skeptic  lords,  eye  her  with  admiration. 

Soldiers  pour  in  :  she  leads  a  freshened  force 

To  Orleans.     What  a  sight  to  see  her,  armed 

Like  manliest  knight,  govern  exulting  steed, 

And  wind  him  with  such  sway,  as  she  sat  there 

To  teach  bold  chivalry  its  horsemanship; 

My  look  so  dazzled  that  I  seemed  to  see 

An  image  almost  of  the  Virgin  self, 

Descended  on  a  cloud  rainful  of  pity, 

To  claim  anew  obediences  and  law  ; 

As  though  men's  governance  had  failed  on  earth, 

And  woman  would  recleanse  infected  power. 

She  gives  commands  as  she'd  ne'er  done  aught  else. 

Good-will  and  zeal  and  courage  rule  afresh 

In  all  men's  hearts.     She  starts  to-day,  this  hour. 

EMILY. 
O  father,  shall  I  not  see  her  again  ? 


42  THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  II. 

ALENCON. 

Thou  shalt.     By  me  she  sends  thy  mother  word, 
She'll  stop  to  bid  goocl-by.     Thou'lt  hardly  know  her, 
Attended  as  she  is  with  martial  suite 
Of  heralds,  squire  and  chaplain.     Hore  she  is. 

Enter  the  MAID,  in  silver  armor  and  helmet,  a  banner  in  her  hand, 
with  sword  and  air  tie-axe  on  either  side,  followed  by  two  heralds, 
a  squire,  and  a  chaplain. 

DUCHESS. 

Dear  Maid,  how  shall  I  greet  thee  ? 

MAID. 

As  the  mother 
Thou'st  been  to  me. 

[  They  warmly  embrace. 
O,  thou  hast  made  me  feel 
As  I  had  here  regained  my  own  dear  mother  ; 
And  thou  (A;  EMILY)  a  dearest  sister  found  anew. 

[Embraces  hey. 

Now  I  might  linger  here,  to  feed  my  heart 
On  daily  home-brewed  sweetness  of  affection, 
Soothing  me  in  the  lap  of  tenderness. 
But  woman-happinesses  are  not  mine. 

[She  gently  unlinks  herself  from  their  embrace. 


SCENIC  III.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  43 

War,  war !     Blood,  blood  !     There  is  no  other  way. 

God's  will  be  done  :  I  am  an  instrument. 

And  noble  Duke,  my  hearty  thanks  to  you. 

We'll  meet  again  ere  long,  and  side  by  side, 

Upon  the  battle  field.     Farewell !  Farewell ! 

Now  must  I  weep  at  carnage  which  I  cause : 

It  is  my  destiny,  my  duty's  hest. 

In  the  brief  silent  respites  from  war's  'larums, 

Dear  memories  will  waft  me  to  my  home 

In  far  Domremy,  halting  on  the  way 

At  Chinon  here,  to  fondle  and  to  thank  you. 

Farewell ! 

[EMILY  runs  to  her  and  embraces  her  passionately. 
My  blessing  on  you.     On,  to  Orleans. 

[Exit. 


SCENE  'III. 

Public  Square  in  Orleans,  in  front  of  a  church. 

Enter  several  Citizens,  much  elated. 

FIRST  CITIZEN. 

Who  would  have  believed  it  ?     The  English  made  no 
stir  to  balk  her  entrance. 


44  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  II. 

SECOND  CITIZEN. 

As  she  marched  by,  they  looked  on  spell-bound,  as 
if  rooted  in  the  earth,  rigid  as  statues.  Their  chiefs, 
Talbot  and  Suffolk,  feared  to  bid  them  attack,  lest  they 
should  disobey,  or  worse  than  that,  be  panic-stricken. 
This  I  heard  just  now  from  a  brave  Champagnee,  who 
deserted  from  them  but  an  hour  ago. 

Enter  an  OLD  MAN. 


Now  I'm  content  to  die  :  Orleans  is  saved,  saved  by 
an  angel  in  woman's  shape,  sent  down  from  heaven. 
The  old  prophecy  is  about  to  be  fulfilled. 

THIRD   CITIZEN. 

Uncle,  were  you  near  enough  to  see  her  well  ? 

OLD   MAN. 

I  was  afraid  of  the  crowd,  and  so  I  waited  at  the 
treasurer's  gate,  where  I  knew  she  was  to  alight.  The 
smile  she  gave  me  as  I  half  knelt  to  her  !  'twill  add  a 
year  unto  my  life. 

SECOND  CITIZEN. 

The  close-packed  multitude  sobbed  for  joy.     Who 


SCENE  III.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  45 

ever  knew  me  weep,  before  to-day  ?  I  needn't  be 
ashamed  of  it,  for  I  saw  a  big  drop  steal  down  the  sun- 
burnt cheek  of  La  Hire. 


FIRST  CITIZEN. 

And  as  she  passed  St.  Ambrose  Church  she  reined 
her  steed;  and  bowed  her  head  in  prayer. 

SECOND  CITIZEN. 

A  poor  half-starved  woman  held  up  an  infant.     She 
stretched  over  its  head  her  hand  and  blest  it. 

THIRD  CITIZEN. 

The  Bastard  of  Orleans,  riding  by  her  side,  looked 
prouder  than  aye. 

SECOND   CITIZEN. 

He  was  thinking  more  of  himself  than  of  her. 
Enter  LA  HIRE,  at  Ike  side  with  his  back  to  the  stage. 

LA    HIRE. 

Halt !     Stand  at  ease  ! 

SOLDIER. 

Captain  La  Hire,  is  there  an  alarm  ? 


46  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  II. 

I.A    HIRE. 

Zounds  !  —  that's  the  first  oath  I've  sworn  for  a  week. 
I'm  under  orders  from  the  Maid  never  to  swear  :  the 
abstinence  will,  I  fear,  unbrace  my  sinews.  Any  alarm  ? 
No  :  I  wish  there  was,  I  so  long  to  set  my  two  hun- 
dred to  a  charge.  They'd  now  ride  down  a  regiment 
of  English,  were  every  man  in  it  a  Talbot.  The  Maid 
bade  me  meet  her  with  my  troop  here  in  the  public 
square:  what  for,  I  know  not.  Ha  !  there's  a  church  : 
she'll  be  going  to  make  them  charge  upon  that.  Her 
they'll  follow  even  into  a  church.  The  half  of  them, 
I'll  be  sworn,  never  saw  the  inside  of  one,  unless  as 
sanctuary  after  a  homicide.  Such  troopers  never  sat 
horse  before.  Every  man  of  them  has  the  muscle  of  an 
ox  and  the  spring  of  a  tiger.  I  call  them  fresh  vet- 
erans, fellows  bred  to  war,  but  not  enrankt  for  some 
time  past. 

FIRST   CITIZEN. 

Captain  La  Hire,  do  you  believe  in  the  Maid's  vis- 
ions ? 

LA -HIRE. 

I  know  nothing  about  visions.  A  strange  power  she 
has:  whence  it  comes  I  know  not.  Men  she  draws  to 
her,  and  moulds  them  to  her  will  ;  whether  by  help  of 
angels  or  by  force  of  soul  I  cannot  tell.  Even  her 
beauty  could  not  alone  do  the  half  she  does.  She  has 
one  great  quality,  I'm  sure  of. 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  47 

FIRST   CITIZEN. 

What's  that  ? 

LA   HIRE. 

A  commander's  eye.  Great  commanders  are  born, 
and  rarely  born.  She'll  make  no  mistakes. 

FIRST  CITIZEN. 

Will  the  other  Captains,  Dunois  and  the  rest,  obey 
her  ? 

LA  HIRE. 

It  goes  hard  with  veteran  leaders  to  submit  to  be  led 
by  a  peasant  girl,  not  out  of  her  teens.  But  they  must 
come  to  it :  all  our  squadrons  will  obey  her  against 
them. 

Enter  the  MAID,  with  her  chaplain. 

MAID. 

Ha!  my  brave  Captain,  you  are  here  before  me. 

LA    HIRE. 

High  Maid,  I  do  my  duty. 

MAID. 

France  were  now 

Erect  and  healthy,  strong  as  any  oak, 
The  stoutest  that  for  centuries  hath  braved 


4  3  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  ,Acr  II. 

The  tempest  on  her  bleakest  mountain  side, 
Had  every  noble  Frenchman  done  his  duty. 
Noble,  I  say  ;  for  they  whose  part  and  place 
It  is  to  plan  and  rule,  in  peace  and  war, 
Theirs  are  the  weightiest  and  most  sacred  duties  ; 
And  France  is  prostrate,  sapped,  because  her  best 
And  highest  have  been  neither  good  nor  high, 
Lacking  obedience  to  command  of  right, 
Selfish,  self-seeking,  arrogant,  and  false. 
Obedience  is  the  life  of  prosperous  action. 
Here  it  must  rule  as  gravest  law  of  laws, 
If  Orleans  shall  be  saved. 


Here  is  a  troop 
Will  swing  a  brawny  hand  at  your  behest. 

MAID  (to  the  troop). 

My  valiant  fellow-soldiers,  you  and  I 

Must  raise  this  siege  and  drive  these  English  hence. 

Say,  can  we  do  it  ? 

THE  TROOP. 
Aye,  aye  ;  we  can,  we  will. 

MAID. 
Vou'll  follow  me  wherever  I  shall  lead  ? 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  49 

THE  TROOP  (with  zeal}. 

We  will,  we  will. 

MAID. 

To-morrow  then  we'll  try 
The  manhood  of  these  forts  that  threaten  us. 
And  now  I  go  to  ask,  to  pray,  for  strength, 
To  Him  whence  all  strength  cometh,  the  Most  High. 
Go  with  me  and  kneel  with  me  side  by  side. 

THE  TROOP  (with  zeal). 
We  will,  we  will. 

MAID. 

Good  citizens  of  Orleans, 
It  is  no  partial  greedy  boon  we  crave  ; 
Only,  that  Heaven  abet  the  righteous  cause. 
The  heart  draws  life  from  prayerful  earnestness. 
Prayers  that  have  in  them  soul  enough  to  mount, 
Meet  loving  answer  on  their  upward  flight. 
Come  with  me  to  the  church,  and  help  me  pray. 
Captain  La  Hire,  bring  in  your  gallant  men. 

[As  she  walks  towards  the  church  followed  by  the  citizens^ 
the  CM  tain  drops. 


ACT   III. 

SCENE  I. 

Orleans. 

The  MAID,  DUNOIS,  GAUCOURT,  SAINTRAILLES,  COARAZE, 
LA  HIRE. 

MAID. 

HAD  I  given  heed  to  sacred  instinct's  charge, 
I  had  assailed  them  yesterday,  at  once, 
Upon  our  entrance  to  th'  exultant  town, 
While  a  great  joy  fanned  courage  in  our  hearts 
And  unexpectedness  had  stunned  the  foe. 
I  yielded  to  your  wish.     To-day  I  would 
See  razed  the  tallest  of  these  English  forts. 
We  need  a  victory :  'tis  a  first  need, 
To  hearten  us  'gainst  long  discouragement. 
Muster  our  squadrons  at  the  eastern  gate  : 
Tis  five  hours  yet  to  noon. 

DUNOIS. 

As  good  to-day, 


SCK.NK  I.J  THE   MAID   OF  ORLEANS. 

As  yesterday,  are  the  ripe  reasons  for 
Postponement,  chief,  that  we  surely  await 
Strong  reinforcement's  shout. 


So  the  English  too  ; 

And  they've  had  none,  while  Orleans  has,  in  us. 
Quickness  is  a  high  multiple  in  war : 
It  harbors  many  virtues  in  its  leap. 

GAUCOURT. 
Besides,  this  is  the  holy  Ascension  day. 

MAID. 

Is  Count  Gaucourt  so  pious  suddenly? 
Healthy  religion  ripes  more  foodful  fruit. 
All  days  are  God's:  He  works  on  holy  days 
As  other  days  ;  nor  doth  He  Sunday  bar 
The  sun  from  shining,  or  the  river's  flow. 
As  all  the  days  are  God's,  so  are  they  man's  ; 
And  he  who  does  good  deeds  should  fear  no  frown 
Our  motion's  swing,  dear  life  and  liberty, 
No  charter  binds  but  duteous  rectitude. 
Now  to  the  muster :  'tis  a  holy  war, 
France  to  redeem  from  vassalage.     La  Hire, 
'Twill  be  an  active  day  for  you. 


52  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III 

LA  HIRE. 

High  Maid, 
Your  orders  are  my  law. 

[Exit  the  MAID 

GAUCOURT. 

Captain  La  Hire 

Ever  had  eye    for  a  young  woman's  charms. 
She  has  her  will  to-day :    another  day 
He'll  have  his  will  of  her. 

LA   HIRE. 

Well  known  it  is, 

Captain  Gaucourt  has  faith  in  nothing  ;  nay, 
Not  in  himself:   therein  he  may  be  right ; 
And  sure  it  was  not  merit  made  him  Captain. 
Let  him  turn  hard  suspicion,  cynic  scorn, 
Where  they  are  virtuous  aims,  —  on  his  own  heart 

GAUCOURT. 

How  dares  a  brigand  hold  such  speech  to  me  ? 


If  Count  Gaucourt  is  better  than  a  brigand, 
He  hath  not  shown  it  yet.  The  impudence 
Of  littleness  it  proves,  that  he  should  be 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  OKLEANS.  53 

Foremost  to  grudge  this  gifted  girl  her  right 
Of  chieftainship,  a  right  direct  from  God, 
Confirmed  by  Charles  our  King. 

GAUCOURT. 

She  may  be  chief 

O'er  cut-throats,  childish  oafs,  befooled  by  faith, 
But  not  o'er  me :   untutored  peasantess  ! 


Beware,  beware!     In  times  of  boiling  stress, 
Men  who  have  ris'n  by  Fortune's  brazen  wrong 
Sink  out  of  sight  with  sudden  disappearance, 
While  Nature's  sparkling  pets  leap  to  the  lead. 
Fortune  must  yield  when  Nature  claims  her  due. 
Come,  Saintrailles,  our  high  warrior-Maid  awaits  us. 

[Exeunt  LA.  HIRE  and  SAINTRAILLES. 

GAUCOURT. 

A  warrior-maid !  As  if  such  thing  could  be. 
The  eastern  gate,  said  she.  That  is  my  post. 
I'll  hold  it  shut  against  a  thousand  Maids. 

COARAZE. 
And  I'll  go  help  you. 

[Exeunt  GAUCOURT  and  COARAZE. 


54  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

DUNOIS  (alone}. 

Gentlemen,  take  care. 
You  know,  I  know,  naught  of  this  element 
You  handle  new.     That  she's  a  power,  I  know, 
A  power  to  wield  men's  wills,  as  I  my  sword. 
Myself  can  scarce  withstand  her,  if  I  would. 
And  then  far-sighted  martial  gifts  she  has, 
A  military  intuition's  glance. 
As  we  approached  the  walls  and  entered  Orleans, 
I  wondered  at  the  much  she  saw,  some  points 
My  survey  had  not  seized.     Now  to  her  side. 
If  I  err  not,  to-day  this  maiden's  breath 
Will  be  more  than  a  whirlwind's  blast  to  drive 
Requickened  squadrons  on  these  English  walls. 

[Exit. 


SCENE  II. 
The  Eastern  Gate  of  Orleans. 

Sentinels  and  other  Soldiers. 
FIRST  SOLDIER  (entering  in  haste). 

Have  you  heard  the  good  news  ? 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  55 

SEVERAL    SOLDIERS. 

What  is  it?     What  is  it? 

FIRST    SOLDIER. 

The  English  fort  nearest  our  gate  is  to  be  attacked 
to-day,  at  once.  They  are  mustering  now.  The  Maid 
leads  the  assault. 

SECOND   SOLDIER. 

Then  the  fort  will  be  carried.  Can  any  one  tell  me 
why,  since  she's  in  the  town,  I  feel  two  hearts  beating 
in  my  bosom  ? 

THIRD  SOLDIER. 

And  so  do  I,  and  so  does  every  man.  By  her  com- 
ing the  garrison's  doubled,  without  counting  the  fresh 
men  she  brought.  Here's  our  Captain. 

Enter  GAUCOURT  and  COARAZE. 

Count  Gaucourt,  is  it  true  that  an  assault  is  to  be 
made  on  the  nearest  tower  to-day  ? 

GAUCOURT. 

I  have  heard  some  talk  of  it.  Close  the  gate.  (The 
soldiers  shut  the  gate.)  Now  bolt  it.  (They  bolt  it.) 
Hearken  my  strict  command :  No  man  must  open  or 


56  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

unbar  that  gate,  until  I  order  it.     Let  none  come  near 
the  gate  :   guard  it  at  your  peril. 

COARAZE. 

I  have    misgivings.     Will    these  men  achieve  your 
orders,  clashing  against  the  Maid's  commands  t 


They  have  no  will  but  mine.     So  closely  knit 
Their  motions  are  to  me,  to  disobey 
They'd  feel  a  suicide.     Habit,  drill,  and  now 
Necessity,  have  ta'en  such  hold  of  them, 
They're  passive  bodies,  whose  one  soul  is  me. 
They  are  machines,  not  men  ;  and  my  machines. 

Enter  the  MAID,  attended  by  a  Squire  and  Herald,  and  followed  by 
Soldiers.     GAUCOURT  and  COARAZE  stand  on  one  side. 

MAID. 

Open  the  gate. 

FIRST    SOLDIER. 

We  are  forbid  by  our  Captain. 

MAID. 
Where  is  your  Captain  ? 

[GAUCOURT  comes  forward. 
Count  Gaucourt,  'tis  good 
Th'  obedience  of  your  soldiers  ;  for,  tight  discipline 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  57 

Is  to  an  army  more  than  stoutest  mail. 
Now  order  them  to  ope  the  gate  to  me. 

GAUCOURT. 
I  cannot.     I  condemn  the  assault  to-day. 

MAID. 

Traitor !     Dare  you  to  be  so  mutinous  ? 
Warriors,  obey  your  chief:    unbolt  the  gate. 

\Thesoldiers,  with  a  rush,  unbolt  and  fling  open  the  gate. 
Now  follow  me,  for  France  and  victory  ! 

[Exit  through  the  gate,  followed  by  all  the  soldiers :  others  come 
hastening  through  it  from  the  town. 


I've  made  a  gross  mistake,  and  so  have  you 

[7b  GAUCOURT. 

But  one  way  for  us  to  retrieve  ourselves, 
And  that's  to  fight,  and  fight  among  the  foremost. 

GAUCOURT. 
I  have  no  soldiers  :  all  have  followed  her. 

COARAZE. 

Let's  after  them  :   fight,  —  that's  the  word  to  day. 

[Exit,  pulling  GAUCOURT  with  him. 


58  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

Enter  from  the  town  several  elderly  citizens  and  a  lame  soldier  ;  at 
intervals  the  booming  of  cannon  is  fieard. 

SOLDIER. 

Could  it  but  mend  my  leg,  that  tingling  sound ! 

FIRST  CITIZEN  (to  soldier). 

Gustave,  climb  on  to  the  wall,  and  tell  us  what  you 
see. 

SOLDIER. 

I'll  try :  the  next  best  thing  to  being  in  a  fight  is,  to 
look  at  it.  {Climbs  up.)  Ha !  I  see  them  all.  There's 
the  Maid,  galloping  in  front.  And  beyond  is  the  Eng- 
lish line.  Ah !  I  know  how  hard  it  is  to  break  that 
wall  of  courage. 

FIRST    CITIZEN. 

We  don't  want  to  hear  praise  of  the  English. 


The  more  praise  they  get,  the  greater  our  credit  if  we 
beat  them.  They've  taken  the  half  of  France  from  us, 
and  shut  us  up  here  in  Orleans.  Could  cowards  do 
that? 

SECOND  CITIZEN. 

Don't  talk,  but  tell  us  what  you  see. 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  59 

SOLDIER. 

Here  to  the  left,  Talbot  chafes  to  help  his  country- 
men. He  shows  his  teeth,  but  dares  not  come  far 
enough  out  to  bite,  the  Bastard  so  shields  with  ready 
squadrons  the  Maid's  assault.  Ha!  La  Hire  charges 
from  the  right  with  all  his  troop.  Hurrah !  the  Eng- 
lish break.  What's  this?  Our  left  wing's  routed. 
Where's  the  Maid  ?  I  see  her  not  —  I  see  her  not. 
Ha !  there  she  is ;  she  was  unhorsed  :  she's  up  again  ; 
she  plunges  among  our  flying  ranks :  they  rally  round 
her ;  cling  about  her  like  children  to  their  mother  in  a 
storm.  There,  she  rushes  on  the  foe,  waves  her  ban- 
ner: not  a  man  but  leaps  after  her.  'Tis  now  the 
English  turn  :  they  fly,  ours  after  them,  pell-mell  upon 
and  into  the  fort.  Victory!  Victory!  The  day  is 
ours :  Orleans  is  saved.  This  is  the  first  blow  ;  the 
last  will  not  be  long  behind  it. 

FIRST   CITIZEN. 

Look  again.     Tell  us  what  you  see  now. 


Scores  of  prisoners  are  led  away.  There's  the  Maid, 
quite  near.  Her  horse  limps.  She's  dismounting  :  she 
leans  upon  her  Squire.  She's  coming  back. 

[ffe  descends  from  the  wall. 


60  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.          [ACT  III. 

Enter  the  MAID,  attended  by  her  Herald  and  Squire,  who  carries  her 
banner  ;  io/ne  stains  of  blood  on  her  armor. 

MAID  (to  the  Herald). 

Guyenne,  the  prisoners,  see  them  well  supplied.. 
It  seems  as  I  had  had  a  battle's  dream, 
Which  frights  me  in  the  memory  of  its  rage, 
But  did  not  in  the  doing.     Stains  of  blood  ! 

[Looking  at  her  armor. 

The  blood  of  fellow-creatures  !    Strange  !  most  strange  ! 
My  mother !  —  what  would  she  have  thought  had  she 
Seen  me  to  day  ! 

\Lo0king  *p. 

Thy  will  be  done  !     Guyenne, 
Bid  the  church-bells  to  ring,  that  all  the  people 
May  meet,  and  kneel  in  reverent  thankfulness. 

[Exit  GUYENNE. 

Lend  me  thy  arm,  Daulon  (to  the  Squire)  ;  I'm  weary 

weak. 

There's  too  much  woman  in  my  muscles  still. 
But  I  shall  harden.     By  and  by,  perhaps, 
J  may  in  turn  give  you  a  helping  arm. 

[Exit  slowly,  leaning  on  DAULON'S  arm.     Church-bells  ringing. 


SCENE  III.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  6 1 

SCENE   III. 

The  Royal  Residence  at  Chinon. 
The  KING,  the  Dukes  <y  ALENCON  and  VENDOME. 

ALENCON. 

Shall  the  long  life  of  Carlovingian  Kings 
Cease  suddenly  in  thee,  buried,  like  corpse 
Of  guilty  suicide,  in  its  own  cross  roads, 
Clotted  with  gore  of  Frenchmen  vainly  shed  ; 
While  o'er  our  France,  in  doubtless  sovereignty, 
Flares  the  red  flag  of  England's  baby-king, 
The  upstart  brat  of  proud  Plantagenet  ? 


My  cousin  Alenson,  you  fear  too  much. 
France  is  not  lost,  even  if  Orleans  be. 

ALENCON. 

What  is  the  body  worth,  when  arms  and  legs 
Are  severed  off?    Tf  Orleans  be  not  lost, 
What  we  shall  gain  by  Orleans  will  be  lost, — 
A  wide  prestige,  and  strength  from  victory,  — 
Unless  we  ship  us  fearless  on  the  flood 


62  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

Loosed  by  the    Maid,  the  flood  of  life  and  valor 
Resprung  in  people's  hearts,  heaving  to  bear 
Their  rightful  King  onward  to  triumph's  crest. 

KING. 

Orleans  is  not  yet  free  :  when  will  it  be  ? 

ALENCON. 

The  Maid  has  entered  Orleans  ;  and  if  she 
Issues  not  thence  victorious,  I'll  go  hide 
A  bowed  shame-stricken  head  in  farthest  isle, 
Where  sight  shall  not  be  prematurely  dimmed 
By  daily  glaring  at  a  conquered  France, 
Nor  ears  be  deafened  by  the  whine  of  slaves. 

VENDOME. 

My  Liege,  that  Alengon  exaggerates 
The  dangers  of  our  plight,  I  cannot  think. 
Yourself,  the  throne,  our  house,  all,  all  is  lost, 
Unless  we  quickly,  boldly,  back  the  Maid. 
Victory  is  the  pet  child  of  trustful  swiftness. 

Enter  a  KNIGHT,  booted  and  spurred,  in  haste. 

KNIGHT. 

Your  Majesty,  Tin  ordered  to  deliver 
To  your  own  hands  a  brief  dispatch. 

[Gives  a  tetter. 


SCENE  III.l         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  63 

KING. 

From  Orleans? 

KNI3HT. 

Sire,  from  the  Maid  herself. 


Read  it,  Alenc,on. 

ALEN90N  (reading). 

"  Most  gracious  King,  with  news  of  victory 
I  greet  the  royal  ear.     But  one  hour  since 
The  fort  St.  Loup  was  carried  by  assault. 
Two  hundred  slain  ;  as  many  prisoners. 
Our  loss  was  light.     Within  a  week,  I  trust 
Your  Orleans  will  be  freed.     Let  me  beseech 
Your  Majesty  to  move  nearer  to  us. 
More  work  will  be  to  do,  and  it  will  need 
Swiftness.     Your  faithful  servant,  Joan,  the  Maid." 

KING. 
'Tis  a  strange  girl,  this  Joan  of  Arc. 

ALENCON. 

Strange,  Sire  ! 

Far  more  than  that  ;  a  wondrous  maid,  a  power 
To  save  dear  France,  if  she  be  seconded. 


64  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

KING. 

She  shall  be  seconded.     On,  then,  to  Selles. 
We'll  welcome  there  the  victress  out  of  Orleans. 
You,  Alengon,  gather  your  forces  in 
For  this  new  work. 

ALENCON. 

That  will  I  with  a  will. 
To  see  you,  Sire,  in  this  high  regal  mood, 
Glads  me  with  something  of  the  old-time  joy. 

\ExeuKt 


SCENE    IV. 

9 

One  of  the  English  Forts,  outside  of  Orleans. 

Lords  TALBOT  and  SUFFOLK,  SIR  WILLIAM  BLUNT,  SIR  HER- 
BERT HAMPTON,  SIR  HENRY  CLIFFORD. 


Sooner  than  fly  to  save  John  Talbot's  life, 
Single  I'd  hew  my  way  to  Orleans'  heart, 
And  there,  begirt,  my  back  against  a  wall, 
Challenge  fierce,  hungry  death  to  tilt  at  me 


SCENE  IV.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  65 

With  sharpened  point  of  thousand  thirsty  spears, 

Thrust  by  the  wrath  in  vengeful  Frenchmen's  thews. 

But  I  am  not  mine  own,  that  I  may  feast 

Mine  honor  on  such  dainty  death.     Brave  comrades. 

Our  lives,  the  lives  of  all  these  men,  we  hold 

In  trust  for  England  and  our  king.     My  friend,  — 

For  such  I'm  proud  to  call  Sir  William  Blunt,  — 

A  veteran  in  the  services  of  war, 

Your  judgment  hath  especial  worth  for  all. 

Shall  we  retreat,  or  stand  the  brunt  of  siege  ; 

For  henceforth  we're  no  longer  the  besiegers, 

But  the  besieged,  so  lopped  are  all  our  means. 


Noble  Lord  Talbot,  rather  would  I  fall 

With  you,  gashed  by  a  thousand  Prankish  swords, 

Than  turn  my  back  upon  this  girlish  host. 

But  we  must  hence,  and  quickly,  would  we  save 

The  remnant  of  our  force  for  wiser  war. 

TALBOT. 

Sir  Herbert,  you're  not  giv'n  to  craven  counsels  : 
What  say  you  ? 

HAMPTON. 

I've  no  mind  to  be  here  butchered 
'Mid  a  slack  herd  of  lily-livered  knaves, 

5 


66  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

Dastards  whom  I've  seen  shake  at  distant  sight 
Of  this  she-devil.     Had  I  not  myself 
Mustered  them  in  Northamptonshire,  I'd  think 
My  corps  were  never  sprung  from  English  loins, 
Their  pluck  so  shrinks  before  this  warrior-witch. 
Transfer  them  quick  to  unenchanted  fields. 

TALBOT. 

Sir  Henry,  will  you  bide  the  worst,  or  move  ? 

CLIFFORD. 

Let  us  away  at  once  :  this  very  day 

My  men  of  choice,  whom  never  did  I  know 

Give  ground  before,  fled  from  this  master-Maid. 

Myself  encountered  her,  and  by  St.  George, 

Had  she  not  worn  her  beaver  up,  I'd  thought 

The  champion  knight  of  France  the  sword's  hilt  clutched 

That  gave  and  took  so  nimbly.     My  men  gone, 

When  hers  rushed  to  her  rescue,  slowly  I 

Gave  way,  fronting  the  numerous  enemy, 

As  doth  become  a  Clifford.     And,  my  Lords, 

Be  she  devil  or  angel,  this  I'll  say, 

She  bears  her  like  an  Amazonian  Queen. 

TAI.BOT. 

My  Lord  of  Suffolk,  you  are  youngest  here  ; 

But  your  ripe  judgment  weighs  with  the  most  weighty. 


SCENE  IV.]          THE  MAW  OF  ORLEANS.  67 

SUFFOLK. 

I  would  not  play  the  braggart,  and  so  set 
Myself  against  this  concord's  perfectness. 
Were  here  proud  England's  bravest  chivalry, 
To  a  man  they'd  say,  in  such  a  case  as  this, 
Lord  Talbot's  will  were  binding  rule  for  all. 

TALBOT. 

Then,  gentlemen,  prepare  to  march  at  dawn. 

We  will  not  steal  away  by  night,  like  thieves, 

But  lift  our  eager  pennons  to  the  wind 

When  the  brave  sun  declares  them  to  the  foe  ; 

And  then,  to  loud  drum -beat,  slowly  depart. 

Should  they  attack  us :  —  but  I  hope  they  will  not :  — 

I  might  forget  my  duty  to  my  King, 

And,  thinking  only  of  myself,  my  sword 

Sheathe  in  so  many  Frenchmen's  hearts,  I  should 

Fall  dead  among  them  from  pure  weariness. 


68  THE  MAW  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acrlll. 

SCENE    V. 

The  Eastern  Gate  of  Orleans,  at  Daybreak. 
Enter  SAINTRAILLES  and  LA  HIRE.    Soldiers  about  the  gate, 

SAINTRAILLES. 

With  what  pacific  prodigality  of  pomp 
And  gorgeous  great  accompaniment,  the  sun 
Ushers   his   entrance  to  our  warring  world, 
Which  heedeth  not  his  wholesome  majesty, 
So  blinded  is  it  by  unwholesome  dreams. 


But  here  are  many  who,  in  eagerness 

To  cope  again  the  worsted  English  troop, 

Greet  this  new  morning's  glow  with  a  delight 

As  fresh  and  firm  as  'twere  their  wedding-day. 

There's  nothing  men  so  crave  as  leadership ; 

And  naught  so  lifts  the  leader  to  his  place 

As  soul,  —  a  soul  so  large  that  other  souls 

Run  to  it  for  refreshment,  and  repair, 

As  centripetal  veins  into  the  heart. 

Our  King  and  Captains  all  were  impotent, 

When  suddenly  an  untaught  peasantess 


SCENE  V.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  69 

Bounds  from  the  earth,  so  quick  with  heavenly  gifts, 
Men,  women,  old  and  young,  sway  to  her  will, 
Ruled  by  the  deep  humanity  there's  in  her. 

[A  movement  and  voices  among  the  Soldiers. 
What  is  it  ? 

[  To  the  Soldiers. 

FIRST    SOLDIER. 

The  English  are  enrankt  for  battle. 

SAINTRAILLES. 

And  so  they  are. 

LA   HIRE. 

Beat  drums,  blow  bugle's  blast. 

[Drums  and  bugles. 

Ha !  boys,  we'll  give  the  lions  one  more  chase. 

FIRST  SOLDIES. 

We'll  drive  them  to  their  cage  and  keep  them  there. 
Enter  the  MAID  in  haste,  partly  armed. 

MAID. 

Hold  !     Stain  not  with  unnecessary  blood 
The  Sabbath  day. 

.    [She  goes  to  the  gaie. 


70  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  III. 

LA    HIRE. 

They  offer  battle  to  us. 

MAID. 

This  lengthened  front  is  not  for  battle.     See, 
They  march  away.     See,  see. 


They  do,  they  do. 

How  like  stout  Talbot  is  this  sunny  start. 
Too  proud  is  he  to  sneak  away  by  night. 


Summon  all  Orleans  :    we  will  follow  them, 
And  on  the  plain,  while  still  they're  in  our  sight, 
Sing  to  their  waning  ears  a  loud  Te  Deum. 

[Exeunt  LA  HIRE,  SAINTRAILLES,  and  soldiers. 
They're  gone  ;  and  rescued  Orleans  breathes  unbound. 
Now  from  this  long  o'ershadowed  centre  spreads 
A  glow,  that  flusheth  fainting  France  with  hope, 
With  high  resolve.     One  little,  rapid  month, 
So  dyed  with  change !     What  a  deep  mystery 
Our  living  here  on  earth,  its  only  clew 
In  the  great  life  beyond,  and  that  there  is 
A  life  beyond.     Man  were  a  raveled  skein, 
Not  to  be  disentangled,  did  his  threads 


SCENE  V.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  71 

Not  wind  themselves  upon  the  long  hereafter. 
He  mounts  and  mounts  to  ever  cleaner  day, 
They  who're  above  him  beckoning  him  to  them. 
How  fresh  the  joy  of  going  always  up, 
At  each  stage  quick  with  wider,  sweeter  being. 
Distressful  life's  sole  sweetener  is  love, 
Love,  lifting  while  it  lights  and  furthers  us  ; 
For  onward  is  aye  surer  when  'tis  upward. 
But  love  itself  hangs  weights  upon  our  feet: 
Love's  life's  in  selfless  helpfulness,  whereby 
We  rise  the  highest  when  we  most  descend. 
And  now,  to  cheer  the  million  sufferers 
Of  this  worn  France,  I  must  at  once  alight 
Upon  the  poisoned  marsh  of  sluggishness, 
Where  lives,  or  rather  fails  to  live,  the  King. 
I'll  snatch  him  up  into  this  triumph's  gale, 
And  bear  him  on  to  Rheims,  to  holy  Rheims. 


ACT   IV. 

SCENE  I. 
The  Royal  Residence  at  Selles. 

The  KING,  the  Dukes  of  ALENCON  and  VENDOME.      To  them 
enter  COUNT  DUNOIS  and  SAINTRAILLES. 

KING. 

My  gallant  warriors,  whom  to  thank  the  most 
I  know  not,  all  have  done  so  well. 

DUNOIS. 

My  Liege, 

The  Captain  of  us  all,  the  wondrous  Maid, 
Your  choice  thanks  keep  for  her. 

SAINTRAILLES. 

Your  Majesty, 

Into  the  men  who  drove  th'  investing  force 
From  Orleans  she  inbreathed  the  soul  that  wrou£    t. 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  73 

KING. 

She  will  be  here  anon  ? 

SAINTRAILLES. 

We  had  the  start 
But  half  an  hour. 

Enter  LA  HIRE. 

KING. 

Welcome  La  Hire.     Your  news? 
Where  is  the  Maid  ? 

LA   HIRE. 

Sire,  she's  without,  and  sends 
To  announce  her  coming. 

KING. 

Subjects  great  as  she 
Have  privilege  of  entrance  to  their  King 
At  pleasure,  unannounced.     Bid  her  come  in. 

[Exit  LA  HIRE. 
Her  brother,  is  he  with  her  ? 

SAINTRAILLES. 

Aye,  my  Liege, 
And  has  done  valiant  service  by  her  side. 


74  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV 

Enter  the  MAID,  her  Brother,  her  Squire,  and  LA  HIRE. 

KING  {to  whom  she  kneels). 
Rise  Maid  of  Orleans.     By  this  title's  fame 
Be  henceforth  known  to  Christendom  for  aye. 
High  Maid  of  Orleans,  France  and  France's  King 
Owe  you  a  boundless  debt,  whereof  this  hour 
I'll  pay  a  portion.     Name  your  largest  wish. 
This  is  your  brother  ? 

MAID. 

Sire,  my  brother  Pierre. 
The  favor  I  would  ask  your  Majesty  — 

KING. 
Say  it :    'tis  fully  granted  ere  you  speak. 


But  part  is  done.     What  has  been  gained  at  Orleans, 

And  what  shall  be  'twixt  this  and  Rheims  —  all  is 

Initiatory  to   the    deed  at  Rheims, 

The  crowning  of  you  there.     My  gracious  King, 

The  favor  I  would  beg  is,  that  you  will 

Speed  me  to  Rheims  with  all  your  means  and  power. 

Until  you,  Sire,  are  crowned,  and  crowned  at  Rheims, 

Nor  friend  nor  foe  reveres  or  feels  your  kingship. 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  75 

KING. 

But  ask  you  nothing  for  your  kin,  dear  Maid? 
Your  father,  brother,  —  nothing  for  yourself? 


I  ask  deliverance  for  the  kingdom,  and 
My  soul's  integrity :  naught  else.     A  high 
Sacred  commission  is  intrusted  me: 
Who  therein  aideth,  profits  me  the  most. 

KING. 

From  this  to  Rheims  the  way  is  full  of  perils. 

MAID. 

Perils  are  spurs  that  prick  the  brave  to  action  : 

Like  mistresses  they  fire  the  souls  of  knights 

To  liveliest  movement.      Zest  fhey  give  to  exploits, 

Lacking  the  which,  tame  these  and  flavorless. 

Of  every  peril,  Sire,  I'll  make  a  prop, 

So  that  your  earthly  strength  shall  fortify 

The  holy  strength  the  consecration  gives. 

The  triumphs  won  upon  the  way  will  weave 

A  jeweled  band  to  clasp  the  crown  at  Rheims, 

And  hold  it  tightly  to  your  royal  brow. 

KING. 
Our  troops  are  faint :  we  gain  by  resting  them. 


76  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV. 

MAID. 

Our  every  halt  is  respite  to  the  foe. 

He's  worn  in  limb  and  heart,  while  we  are  flushed 

With  mastery,  all  jubilant  with  hope. 


Tis  well ;  and  you  shall  have  full  furtherance  meet. 

To-morrow  1,  in  honor  of  yourself 

And  your  brave  comrades,  hold  a  festival : 

To  this  I  bid  you  all,  and  after  that 

Will  haste  you  on  your  way. 

MAID. 

Pardon,  my  Liege  — 

KING. 

What !  not  a  day  ? 

MAID. 

Not  one,  most  gracious  King. 
The  clay  for  feasting  is  when  work  is  done. 
In  war  Time  lends  his  scythe  unto  the  swift. 
The  spirit's  up  in  France :   let  it  have  swing. 
Cool,  slacken  it,  not  with  an  hour's  pause. 
Knights  and  armed  men  are  streaming  to  our  ranks3 
Vowed  to  uplift  down-trodden,  wasted  France 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  77 

To  rightful  place  of  august  sovereignty, 
And  drive  these  English  to  their  petty  isle. 
Battles  are  ringing  loudly  in  my  ears, 
And  Frankish  shouts  of  victory.     My  Liege, 

[Kneeling, 
I  do  beseech  you,  let  me  march  at  once. 

KING  (raising  her  np) . 

Almost  your  words  weave  harness  to  my  back. 
Your  wish  shall  be  my  law,  great  Maid  of  Orleans. 


La  Hire,  we  rest  to-night.     At  earliest  dawn 
Be  all  afoot,  ready  for  quickest  step. 
I  beg  you,  Sire,  to  let  me  now  withdraw. 

[Exit. 


SCENE  II. 

Plain  north  of  the  Loire,  near  the  Town  of  Patay. 

Enter  TALBOT  and  CLIFFORD,  meeting. 

CLIFFORD. 

Lord  Talbot.  get  you  ready  for  a  fight. 


78  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV 

TALBOT. 

But  are  the  French  so  near  ? 

CLIFFORD. 

In  battle  ranged, 
And  close  at  hand. 

TALBOT. 

Full  of  surprises  she, 

The  nimble  witch.     Too  late  to  fall  back  now 
To  picked  position,  and  I'm  glad  'tis  so: 
I'd  rather  fight,  even  though  chances  scowl. 
Know  you  the  name  of  the  small  town  t'our  left  ? 

CLIFFORD. 

Patay,  my  lord. 

TALBOT. 

Clifford,  I  have  misgivings. 

But  come  :  we'll  fight  the  battle  of  Patay. 

[Exeunt. 

The  scene  opens  ;  at  the  back  of  the  stage  "  Alarums,  excursions  ;  " 
then  enter  SUFFOLK,  fighting  as  he  retreats  before  two  French 
soldiers  led  by  a  SERGEANT. 

SERGEANT. 

Cease  barren  blows :  what  can  one  sword  'gainst  three  ? 
Surrender;  or  we'll  hack  you  limb  by  limb. 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  79 

SUFFOLK. 

Suffolk  was  never  yet  a  prisoner. 

His  ransom  will  be  rich.     Name  what  'twill  be, 

And,  on  the  honor  of  an  English  peer, 

The  double  shall  be  paid  you  if  you  now 

Let  me  go  free. 

SERGEANT. 

It  cannot  be,  great  lord. 
Or  yield  your  sword,  or  here  be  hewn  to  death. 

SUFFOLK. 

You  are  a  gentleman  ? 

SERGEANT. 

I  am,  my  lord. 

SUFFOLK. 

Your  name  ? 

SERGEANT. 

William  Regnault. 

SUFFOLK. 

Are  you  a  Knight  ? 

SERGEANT. 

I'm  not  a  Knight. 


8O  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  IV. 

SUFFOLK. 

Suffolk  yields  not  his  sword 

To  less  than  Knight.     Then  William  Regnault,  kneel, 
And  here  I'll  dub  you. 

[SERGEANT  kneels:  SUFFOLK  touches  the  SERGEANT'S  shoul- 
ders with  his  sword. 

-Rise,  Sir  William  Regnault. 
Sir  Knight,  here  is  my  sword. 

\Giving  it. 

Come,  now  away. 

SERGEANT. 

Guard  him  and  treat  him  well :  his  worth's  a  fortune. 
[Exit  SUFFOLK  with  the  two  soldiers. 

Enter  another  French  SERGEANT. 

SERGEANT. 

What,  William,  you  at  rest  this  busy  day  ? 

SIR   WILLIAM. 

Be  you  familiar  with  your  equals,  Sir. 

SERGEANT. 

Holloa  !  What's  this  ? 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  8 1 

SIR   WILLIAM. 

You're  speaking  to  a  Knight. 

SERGEANT.    » 

How  ?     She  has  dubbed  you  ? 

SIR   WILLIAM. 

No :  Lord  Suffolk. 

SERGEANT. 

What? 

SIR   WILLIAM. 

See  here,  his  sword. 

SERGEANT. 

The  hilt  glistens  with  diamonds 

SIR    WILLIAM. 

I'll  tell  you  more  anon.     Now  to  the  field, 
To  win  a  second  time  my  spurs. 

SERGEANT. 

By  Jove, 

You're  in  luck,  Bill. 
6 


82  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  |Acr  IV. 

SIR  WILLIAM. 

Sir  William. 


Ah!  Sir  William. 
{Exeunt. 

Enter  a  French  SOLDIER  ivifh  a  prisoner. 


Laggard,  you  make  believe  you're  wounded,  do  you  ? 

[Strikes  him  lo  the  ground  with  his  sword. 
Enter  the  MAID. 
MAID. 

Dastard  !  it  cannot  be  that  thou  art  French. 
Strike  a  poor,  wounded,  unarmed  prisoner  ! 
Back  to  the  ranks,  and  strike  there  armed  men. 

[Exit  SOLDIER.     She  goes  to  the  prisoner  and  kneels  beside 

him  tenderly 

He  has  not  life  enough  to  rise,  poor  wretch. 
Within  the  cores  of  men  demons  lie  coiled, 
Which  war's  hot  fury  heats  to  hellish  blaze. 


SCENE  II.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  83 

Enter  TALBOT. 

TALBOT. 

Whoe'er  thou  art,  yield  thee  :  I  am  the  Talbot. 

MAID. 

Yield  thee  :  I  am  the  Maid. 

f  Raises  hfr  vizor. 
TALBOT. 

Ha  !  art  thou  she  ? 

But  no  :  Talbot  fights  not  with  women.     Yet, 
To  let  escape  thou  art  too  great  a  captive. 
Come  on  !  I  will  disarm,  not  slay  or  wound  thee. 

\Theyfight:  after  a  few  passes   TALBOT'S   sword  is  struck 

from  his  hand. 

What  strength  unearthly  nerves  thy  arm  ? 


God's  strength. 
The  strength  of  right,  which  angels  favor  now. 

TALBOT  (half  aside). 

By  Heaven,  her  port  and  look  are  h:gh  and  modest. 

MAID. 
The  famed  Lord  Talbot  is  a  nobleman 


84  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  IV. 

By  nature  as  by  name.     Through  fellow-feeling 
Can  he  not  know  there  floods  another's  breast 
The  current  too  of  truth  and  nobleness. 


Enter  in  haste  the  MAID'S  Herald,  GUYENNE. 


The  foe  is  full  in  flight,  ours  in  pursuit. 
Suffolk  is  taken,  and  great  Talbot  slain. 


Here  is  Lord  Talbot :  him,  Guyenne,  I  trust 
To  your  especial  'tendance  and  respect. 
Enguard  him  well,  but  treat  him  like  a  king. 

[Exit  TALBOT  with  GUYENNE,  TALBOT  bowing  to  her  wi/A 
surprise  and  admiration 

Onward,  onward ;  still  onward  to  the  goal. 

Again  the  sight's  as  full  of  ghastly  death 

As  were  at  dawn  these  ripening  fields  with  hope, 

Which  angry  hosts  have  trampled  into  slime. 

And  all  this  slaughter  for  the  good  of  France ! 

Is  death  the  way  to  life,  the  legal  way  ? 

Daily  from  his  vast  charnel-house,  the  earth, 

Life  rises  up  in  smiling  resurrection, 

As  from  the  longest,  blackest  night  the  sun, 

To  renovate  the  world  with  loveliness. 


SCENE  II.]         THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  8$ 

A  resurrection  and  a  redecease  — 

This  is  th'  eternal,  deep,  creative  round. 

And  as  acts  steep  them  in  the  soul  of  good 

And  clean  ascension,  so  their  sure  revival 

Is  quick  with  beauty  and  with  power's  cheer. 

No  planted  seeds  rise  with  such  bettered  sap 

As  aspiration.     Thus  through  death  we  grow 

Up  being's  heights.     The  truer  is  the  life 

That  sinks  in  death,  the  livelier  is  its  leap 

Upon  the  scale.     I  have  not  long  to  live. 

Athwart  the  mist  death  looms  more  clear  and  clear. 

But  wherefore  stain  my  mind  with  thoughts  of  me  ? 

My  soul's  fidelityunto  itself, — 

Hold  sacred  that,  and  with  it,  faith  in  good, 

And  I  shall  never  lack  Heaven's  help  and  smile. 

[Exit. 


86  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  IV. 


SCENE   III. 

Domremy.     In  front  of  the  cottage  of  Jacques  d'Arc, 
father  of  the  Maid. 

Enter  from  the  cottage  her  FATHER  and  MOTHER. 

FATHER. 

This  is  but  talk  and  rumor ;  not  a  soul  do  we  know 
of  who  has  spoken  with  or  seen  her. 


But  the  rumors  are  all  one  way,  and  for  some  time 
past  they  come  thicker  and  less  like  rumors 

Enter  an  old  SOLDIER. 

SOLDIER. 

Are  you  Jacques  d'Arc  ? 

FATHER. 

Aye,  I  am  he. 

SOLDIER. 

The  father  of  Joan  of  Arc  ? 

MOTHER. 

That's  our  daughter  :  what  know  you  of  her  ? 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  87 

SOLDIER. 

Know  of  her !     Was  I  not  with  her  at  Orleans  ? 

MOTHER. 

Then  it  is  all  true  about  Orleans? 


All  true  ?  Have  you  not  heard  ?  How  she  entered 
Orleans  with  new  levies ;  how  she  took  fort  after  fort ; 
how  the  English  gave  up  the  siege  and  fled. 

MOTHER  (falling  on  her  husband"!  neck). 

Our  dear,  dear  Joan  ! 

SOLDIER. 

At  the  last  sortie  I  was  close  behind  her,  until  I  was 
knocked  down.  As  she  came  back,  after  the  victory, 
she  got  off  her  horse  and  helped  me  up  :  I  was  only 
bruised.  I  kissed  her  gauntleted  hand.  She  said  I 
had  done  enough,  was  getting  old  ;  asked  me  about 
my  family,  told  me  to  come  to  her  the  next  day,  and 
she  would  give  me  my  discharge.  When  I  went,  she 
gave  me  money  too.  They  say  she  hears  voices  of 
angels :  I  believe  it,  for  she's  an  angel  herself. 


O  my  sweet  child  ! 


88  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV. 

SOLDIER. 

I  left  Orleans  the  next  day,  the  day  she  started  for 
the  King.  I'm  glad  I've  seen  you  :  I  came  out  of  my 
way  to  see  the  father  and  mother  of  the  great  Captain. 

FATHER. 

The  great  Captain  ? 

SOLDIER. 

Aye,  the  Captain  of  them  all.     Farewell. 

{Going 

FATHER. 

Tarry  with  us  to-day. 

MOTHER. 

Rest  here  till  to-morrow. 

SOLDIER. 

Thanks,  thanks:  but  I  must  get  home  to-night.     From 

wife 
And  children  I've  been  away  more   than   two  years. 

Farewell. 

MOTHER  and  FATHER. 

Farewell !     Farewell. 

[Exit. 

FATHER. 

Wonderful !     He  talks  like  a  man  of  truth. 


SCENE  III.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  89 

MOTHER. 

I'll  answer  for  him.     But  where  is  son  Pierre,  who 
would  go  with  her.     Why  does  not  he  come  back  ? 

Enter  PIERRE. 

MOTHER  and  FATHER. 

Pierre ! 

[He  throws  himself  into  their  arms. 

MOTHER. 

And  Joan,  how  is  she  ?    where  is  she  ? 


Joan  is  well,  and  more  than  well.  O  father,  your 
daughter  is  greater  than  the  King:  she's  a  mighty 
power  in  France  for  good.  'Tis  all  so  strange  and 
sudden,  I  hardly  seem  to  know  it,  though  I've  seen  it. 

MOTHER. 

Where  is  she  now  ? 

PIERRE. 

I  left  her  an  hour  after  the  battle  of  Patay,  the 
greatest  of  the  many  she  has  won.  "  Pierre,"  she  said, 
"  as  swiftly  as  your  horse  will  carry  you,  ride  to  Dom- 
remy."  Then  she  threw  her  arms  round  my  neck  and 


90  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  iv, 

kissed  me  passionately :  "  Carry  these  kisses  to  my 
dear  father  and  mother."  Here  they  are :  (ffe  em- 
braces them  both.)  And  then  she  wept  sweet  tears. 
Dear  mother,  father,  I  cannot  tell  you  what  she  is. 
She  has  outgrown  me  so,  I  scarcely  know  her  for  my 
sister.  "Tell  them,"  she  said,  "  I  cannot  go  to  them, 
but  you  bring  them  to  Rheirns."  When  I  came  away 
—  as  if  she  yearned  to  go  whither  I  was  going — she 
held  my  hand  long  in  hers,  her  hand  which  an  hour 
before  had  taken  great  Talbot  prisoner. 


The  terrible  Talbot  ? 

PIERRE. 

Aye,  and  Suffolk  too  was  taken,  and  many  more ;  all 
that  were  not  captured  fled  swift  away,  pursued  by  La 
Hire  and  Armagnac,  and  other  of  our  high  chiefs. 
But  she  is  chief  of  the  chiefs. 

FATHER. 

I  cannot  get  it  all  in  at  once.  But  I  don't  like 
women  taking  such  lead. 

PIERRE. 

Women  will  take  the  lead  at  times  :  it  seems  to  be 
God's  will.  Queen  Isabel,  mother  of  the  Kin^,  she 


SCENE  IV.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  91 

took  the  lead  to  ruin  France  ;  and  b\it  for  another 
woman's  taking  a  higher  lead,  she  would  have  ruined 
France. 

FATHER. 

What  other  woman  ? 

PIERRE. 

Your  daughter  Joan.     She's  the  Savior  of  France. 
Let  us  go  in  :  I  need  to  rest. 

{Exeunt  into  the  cottage. 


SCENE  IV. 
The  French  camp  before  Troyes. 

Council  of  War:  the  KING,  the  ARCHBISHOP  OF  RHEIMS,  ALEN- 
CON,  DUNOIS,  GAUCOURT,  COARAZE. 

KING. 

Another  week  before  this  stubborn  town 
Would  wear  our  army  out. 

ARCHBISHOP. 

Were't  not  outworn 
Already,  sulking  in  low  laxity. 


92  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV 

KING. 

Is  your  Maid  mending,  Alencpn  ? 

ALENCON. 

My  Liege, 

You  lift  me  to  new  rank,  calling  her  mine. 
Happy  I  am  to  say,  she's  convalescent. 

ARCHBISHOP. 
I  did  not  know  that  angels  could  be  sick. 

ALENCON. 

I've  known  a  bishop  ill,  aye,  very  ill, 
And  of  a  foul  disease. 

DUNOIS. 

Your  Majesty, 
Send  for  the  Maid  :  hear  her. 

KING. 

Tis  well  bethought. 
Dunois,  yourself  go  fetch  her. 

[Exit  DUNOIS. 

GAUCOURT. 

What  can  she, 
My  Liege,  do  'gainst  these  walls  ? 


SCENE  IV.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  93 

ALENCON. 

What  she  has  done 

'Gainst  stouter  walls  than  these,  'gainst  gates  of  Orleans, 
Held  bolted  in  her  face  by  Count  Gaucourt  — 

GAUCOURT. 

My  men  broke  from  me  and  would  not  obey. 

ALENCOX. 

Nor  will  they  now  obey  any  but  her. 
Are  memories  so  short  ?     'Tis  not  three  months 
Since  France  was  wasted,  sunk  ;  defeat  our  wont ; 
When  from  our  furthest  eastern  bound  there  stole 
A  rumor  of  this  Maid,  fleeing  before, 
Like  scented  dawn  preluding  to  the  light ; 
And  soon  herself  shone  out,  warming  all  hearts  ; 
Then  quick  was  raised  the  siege  of  hopeless  Orleans. 

CO  A  RAZE. 

Who  helpt  her,  save  we  Captains  with  our  cohorts  ? 


Caesar  himself  could  not  have  conquered  Gaul 
Without  his  legions ;  but,  into  each  man 
He  put  son>^  of  the  life  of  Caesar's  soul. 
It  doth  amaze  and  irk  me  every  clay, 


94  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  IV. 

To  see  men  have  so  little  heart  for  greatness, 

To  see  them  unillumed  by  present  splendor; 

But  rather  with  their  littleness  they  strive 

To  cast  eclipse  upon  the    glow  that  lights  them, 

Like  creature  moon  upon  creative  sun. 

Must  I  recall  what  this  rare  Maid  achieved  ? 

Have  all  of  you  lost  vision  of  that  flag 

Whose  vavvard  gleam  shone  like  a  clove,  from  Heav'n 

New  lighted,  prophesying  victory, 

While  wonders  grew  about  her  as  she  wrought. 

Suffolk  held  forted  Jargau  in  her  path  : 

She  carried  it  by  sudden  bold  assault ; 

Then  steep  Beaugency  stormed  ;  and  with  Patay 

She  quitted  them  for  shameful  Agincourt.     ' 

But  here  she  comes  :  the  sight  of  her  again 

Refills  my  soul  with  joyfulness  and  hope. 

Enter  the  MAID  in  light  armor,  and  DUNOIS. 


Dear  Maid,  most  glad  I  am  to  see  the  sun 
Glisten  once  more  upon  your  healthy  cheek. 
Pains  that  rack  you  are  envious  of  us  all. 
This  rebel  town  hath  held  us  here  a  week, 
Much  longer  than  we  hoped ;  and  yet,  they  say, 
'Twill  need  another  week  to  compass  it. 


SCENE  IV.)          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  95 

MAID. 

My  Liege,  there  needeth  not  the  half  a  day. 

ARCHBISHOP. 
What  fresh  presumptuous  arrogance  is  this? 

MAID. 

Presumptuous  priest,  who  in  thy  darkened  soul 
Harbor'st  nor  faith  nor  honesty  — 

KING. 

Dear  Maid, 
Bethink  thee,  he's  the  reverend  Lord  Archbishop. 

MAID. 

Great  King,  my  prompters,  counselors,  and  guides, 
They  know  no  lords  on  earth,  but  only  souls ; 
Nor  lords,  nor  magistrates,  nor  kings,  nor  priests, 
But  only  who  is  false  and  who  is  true. 
This  false  priest  is  a  traitor  too. 

ARCHBISHOP. 

How  dar'st  thou. 

And  in  this  presence,  give  thy  ribald  tongue 
Such  license  of  untruth. 


g6  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  \ ACT  IV. 

MAID. 

Before  the  King, 

And  all  this  company,  I  will  proclaim 
Thy  treason,  if  thou  dost  not  come  at  once 
And  hear  me  whisper  to  thee  what  I  know. 

[The  ARCHBISHOP  approaches  her  in  evident  alarm. 

ARCHBISHOP. 

What  can  you  know  ? 

[After  she  has  whispered  in  his  ear,  he  starts,  then  sneaks 

away. 

DUNOIS. 

Like  a  whipt  spaniel,  see, 
Th'  Archbishop  sneaks  away. 


Your  Majesty, 
Shall  we  go  summon  this  rebellious  town  ? 

[As  she  walks  towards  the  back  of  iJie  stage,  the  scenes  open, 
and  show  the  walls  of  Troyes,  with  citizens  on  them. 
Good  citizens  of  Troyes,  you  are  at  heart, 
As  in  your  speech,  true  Frenchmen.     Here's  your  King, 
Your  rightful,  lawful,  far-descended  King. 
He  comes  in  power,  and  in  mercy  too, 
To  claim  his  own,  which  is,  Frenchmen's  allegiance. 
He  offers  you  full  pardon  for  yourselves, 


SCENE  IV.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  97 

Honorable  exit  for  the  garrison. 
You  see  our  force  of  thousands,  prompt  to  bridge 
The  fosse  and  scale  your  walls.     Spare  us  the  need. 
Open  your  gates  to  brothers,  not  to  foes. 


We  do  accept  the  King's  most  generous  terms. 
We  will  unbar  the  gates  and  welcome  him. 

[Exeunt  citizens  from  the  wails 


Most  gracious  King,  let  us  now  on  again. 
Rheims  waits  for  us,  and  France  for  regal  Rheims. 
When  you  from  Rheims  shall  march,  rebellious  towns 
Will  ope  their  gates  and  shout  triumphant  welcomes 
To  the  crowned  Majesty  of  rescued  France. 
[  The  curtain  drops^ 


ACT    V. 

SCENE   I. 

Rheims.     Jn  front  of  the  Cathedral. 

Enter  two  Gentlemen,  meeting. 

FIRST  GENTLEMAN. 

Too  late  you  are  to  see  the  spectacle. 

SECOND  GENTLEMAN. 

I  feared  so. 

FIRST  GENTLEMAN. 

Coronation  like  to  this 
Was  never,  nor  will  ever  be,  beheld. 

SECOND  GENTLEMAN. 

So  many  bishops  in  their  gorgeousness  ? 

FIRST   GENTLEMAN. 

The  mitres  I'd  no  time  to  count  or  think  of, 
My  eyes,  all  eyes,  so  clung,  with  ravishment, 
To  the  great  personage. 


SCKN«  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  99 

SECOND   GENTLEMAN. 

And  I  too  late 
To  see  him  !    How  was  he  attired  ? 

FIRST  GENTLEMAN. 

The  King  ? 
I  hardly  saw  him. 

SECOND   GENTLEMAN. 

What !  not  see  the  King  ? 

FIRST   GENTLEMAN. 

The  King,  sir,  was  a  puppet  in  that  scene  ; 

And  such  a  scene  !  where  senses,  feeling,  thought, 

Each  had  a  fresh  extravagant  delight. 

And  she,  a  peasant  girl  from  cottage  hearth, 

Creator  of  it  all !     By  power  of  soul, 

With  master's  regnant  intellect  colleagued, 

France  she  has  rescued  ;  crowned,  installed  the  King  ; 

Into  the  people  national  life  rebreathed. 

As,  high  in  martial  panoply,  she  stood 

Beside  the  King,  the  many  thousands  there, 

That  stretched  the  church  with  panting  populousness, 

O'erjoyed  its  vasty  spaces  with  their  wonder, 

All  bosoms  heaving  gratitudes  to  her, 

All  eyelids  glistening  with  acknowledgment. 


100  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V. 

SECOND    GENTLEMAN. 

Where  is  she  now  ? 

FIRST   GENTLEMAN 

Still  in  the  church.     I  stayed 
But  half  an  hour:  I  cared  not  witnessing 
The  pomps  of  sacerdotal  conjuration. 
They're  coming  out :  stand  we  aside  to  see  them. 

The  church  door  opens  ;  '.hen  through  it  enter  the  KING,  the  MAID, 
ALENCON,  VENDOME,  DUNOIS,  the  Father,  Mother,  Brother, 
and  Squire  of  the  MAID  ;  the  Squire  bearing  her  banner  ;  peo- 
ple following. 

MAID  (falling  on  her  knees). 

Most  gracious  King,  I  pray  your  Majesty,  — 
Th'  anointed,  ripened  Majesty  of  France,  — 
Let  now  thy  servant  go,  go  to  my  home  : 
My  task  is  done. 

KING. 

Arise,  great  Maid  of  Orleans  : 

[Lifting  her  up, 

The  foremost  subject  of  my  grateful  realm. 
By  nature  noblest  'mong  the  noble,  thee 
I  only  can  exalt  in  outward  name, 
To  mate  thy  inwardness,  installing  thee 


SCENE  I.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  IQI 

In  the  first  class  of  French  nobility, 

Thee  and  thy  kin,  which  solemnly  I  do, 

And  here  proclaim.     And  for  escutcheon,  thus  : 

In  field  of  azure,  sword  with  hilt  of  gold, 

Blade  argent,  lifting  on  its  point  the  crown  : 

Two  fleurs  de-lis  in  pale.     Dunois,  thy  sword  : 

Nay,  here's  a  fitter  one :  thine,  noble  Maid. 

Pierre  d'Arc,  kneel  down.    Rise,  Sir  Pierre.    Alen^on, 

Note  this  :  henceforth,  the  parish  Domremy, 

As  birthplace  of  the  Maid  of  Orleans,  is 

Exempt  from  tax  for  aye. 

\The  MMT>  falls  on  her  Mother's  neck. 

And,  furthermore, 

'Tis  ordered,  that  from  the  King's  treasury, 
Unto  her  parents  annually  be  paid 
Two  hundred  crowns,  the  payment  to  begin 
The  day  the  siege  was  raised  of  Orleans. 
For  thee,  dear  Maid,  not  yet  is  done  thy  task  ; 
Nor  will  it  be,  so  long  as  France's  soil 
Is  bruised  by  hoof  of  English  combatant. 
Illustrious  as  hath  been  thy  warrior-work, 
'Tis  but  begun.     The  King  has  yet  to  win 
His  kingdom.     Foes  still  swarm  upon  his  land. 
'Twere  to  desert  us,  did  you  quit  us  now. 
Thou  art  our  inspiration,  and  all  need 
Thy  breath  and  presence  for  their  constancy. 


IO2  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V. 

Above  our  heads  we  could  not  miss  that  flag, 

Whose   shimmer   reddened   Frenchmen's    blood,   and 

sped  it 

With  triple  speed  through  every  lifted  arm. 
But,  come  to  me  anon,  and  we'll  talk  further. 

[Exeunt  the  KING,  ALENCON,  VENDOME,  DUNOIS. 


'Twas  then  a  dream,  —  a  dream  how  sweet  and  sunny  ! 
I  never  can  be  shepherdess  again : 
I'm  not  mine  own.    -More  blood,  more  sieges,  battles. 
They  give  me  hints  of  something  great,  but  fearful, 
That's  soon  to  be.    Ah  me !     Grant  me  more  strength. 

[looking  up. 
Come,  father,  mother,  let  us  go  and  weep. 

\Exeunt,  followed  by  the  people,  none  of  whom  had  gone 

•with  the  KING. 

FIRST  GENTLEMAN. 
{He  follows  her  across  the  stage  with  Jiands  uplifted.) 

With  what  rebounding  ease  she  moves  and  mounts. 

The  high  should  be  on  high,  the  low  below ; 

Else  action's  wheels  strain  sighing  in  a  slough, 

And  keep  no  pace  with  life's  loved-  promptitudes. 

This  present  joyousness  of  sweet  success 

Is  solely  due  to  quick  conformity 

To  reclamations  of  th'  impending  Will, 


SCENE  II.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  103 

Against  whose  benison  our  daily  fret 

Keeps  us  forever  bruised  and  dislocate. 

In  France's  sour,  self-wrought  extremity, 

God  hath  unkinged  a  fruitless  man-made  King, 

And  set  above  him  this  great  woman-King, 

Blest  with  the  gifts  and  secrets  of  command. 

She  comes  a  heavenly  apparition,  lapped 

In  human  forces  and  appliances. 

Ever  above  infinitude's  horizon 

Fresh  truths  are  looming,  freighted  with  new  light,  — 

For  those  whose  eyes  and  wishes  see  them  shine. 

This  is  one  of  the  brightest.     Shall  we  go 

And  bathe  us  deeper  in  its  bracing  beams  ? 

[Exeunt. 


SCENE  II. 
A  room  in  the  Royal  Residence  at  Rheims. 

KING  (alone). 

What  a  wild   tenderness  enraptures  me  ! 
This  can  but  be  the  sudden  burst  to  flame 
Of  passion  stored  unconsciously  away. 
And  yet  it  seemed  full  flashed  in  that  one  moment. 
Her  upward  look  of  maiden  holiness 


IO4  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V 

Shot  into  me  a  life,  so  absolute 

I  felt  no  other  feeling,  had  no  thought, 

Nor  even  knew  when  the  won  crown  enringed  me. 

A  partnership  so  close  there  is  among 

The  fiery  constituents  of  our  being, 

Each  kindles  each ;  and  sometimes  all  on  one 

Throw  the  united  pulsings  of  the  soul, 

That  but  by  this  one  is  the  man  inflamed  ; 

As  I  am  now,  and  with  a  deepening  thrill 

I  never  knew  before.     A  triumph  this 

She  surely  looked  not  for.     Ha  !  here  she  is. 

Enter  the  MAID. 


My  Liege,  I  come  because  you  summoned  me. 
Is  there  a  hope  for  me  ? 

KING. 

As  for  us  all. 

We  all  must  to  the  war  again  ;  and  thou 
The  foremost :    this  brave  war  is  thine.     'Tis  l.hou 
Hast  made  it  what  it  is.     Should  I  just  now, 
Should  all  the  Captains,  throw  our  harness  off, 
What  wouldst  thou  deem  ?     And  thou  art  worth  us  all, 
The  shepherd  thou  of  bold,  victorious  flocks. 


SCENE  II.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  105 

Be  not  downcast.     Who  is  so  blest  as  thou  ? 
Think  with  what  thanks,  joy,  admiration,  France 
And  France's  King  inclose  thee  in  their  hearts. 
What  still  I'd  do  for  thee  thou  canst  not  think. 


My  Liege,  for  what  you've  done  for  all  my  kin 

I  thank  your  Majesty.     It  is  enough  : 

I  wish  naught  more  for  them  or  for  myself. 


Thy  modesty  may  be  content  with  little  ; 

Not  so  broad  France.    She'd  have  thee  placed  where  she, 

Upgazing,  can  with  every  morn  rethank  thee, 

A  visible  sign  to  all  of  Christendom 

Of  her  great  gratitude.     First,  then,  a  title. 

MAID. 

My  gracious  King,  titles  are  not  for  me. 

KING. 

Who  more  deserves  a  regal  title  ?     And, 
There's  one  would  like  to  give  thee  such,  —  the  highest. 
Let  me  see  :   Orleans  —  that's  already  claimed. 
Patay  :   that's  it :    the  Duchess  of  Patay. 


£06  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V. 

MAID. 

The  Maid  of  Orleans,  that's  the  title,  Sire, 
You've  given  me,  and  by  that  I  would  abide. 

KING. 

Thou  art  too  good,  too  great,  too  beautiful, 
And  still  sb  innocent  thou  know'st  it  not. 
But  thou  must  let  thy  King  give  thee,  dear  Maid, 
Warm  tokens  of  his  gratitude,  —  his  love. 

{He  puts  his  arm  round  her  waist. 

MAID  (starting  away  from  him). 

Avaunt !     Is  this  the  shape  the  tempter  takes  ? 

Com'st  thou  all  hot  from  hell  ?     Back  to  thy  home  ! 

My  soul  is  free,  and  stout  for  self-protection. 

I  would  unflesh  me,  and,  bare  skeleton, 

Stalk  hideous  through  the  world,  rather  than  be 

A  rounded  thing  to  whet  the  lusts  of  men. 

O  woman,  woman  !  how  art  thou  beset ! 

Thy  very  tenderness  is  a  decoy 

To  snare  thee.     With  thy  soul's  mobility, 

Thy  pity  and  thy  melting  lovingness, 

They  lime  the  twig  to  lock  thy  free-born  feet, 

Using  thy  trustfulness  to  cheat  thy  heart ; 

Then  loosen  thee,  a  slave  to  thy  low  self, 

Deplumed,  sad,  lonely,  withered,  void,  unsexed. 


SCENE  II.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  107 

O  God !     I  shudder  at  the  wantonness 

Which  strews  the  earth  with  outcasts  beautiful ! 


Unwittingly  I  have  affrighted  thee. 

Maiden  imagination  so  hath  wrought, 

Thou  seest  black  harms  where  smiling  good  was  meant. 

MAID. 

I  cannot  blacken  them,  so  deep  are  they 
With  rot  ingrained.     I  would,  Sire,  take  my  leave. 

[Going. 

KING. 

Nay,  pause  :  thou  must  not  part  in  this  false  mood. 


MAID. 
I  pray  your  Majesty  :    I  cannot  stay. 

KINO. 
Your  sovereign  master  then  commands  you  stay. 

MAID. 

The  King  commands  the  subject,  not  the  woman. 
I  am  myself  sole  master  of  myself. 


[Going. 


[Exit 


[OS  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V. 

SCENE  III. 
The  English  Camp  in  Normandy. 

The  DUKE  OF  BEDFORD,  Lords  TALBOT  and  SUFFOLK,  and  SIR 
HENRY  CLIFFORD. 

BF.DFORD. 

Compiegne  not  yet  submitted  ? 

TALBOT. 

Nor,  your  Highness, 
Like  to  be.     She  has  fought  her  way  into  it. 

BEDFORD. 

Ha !     Curses  on  her  ?     How  she  baffles  us  ! 
What  is  our  lavish  sinful  ness,  that  we 
So  deluged  are  with  chastisement  ?     Who's  here  ? 
Enter  a  KNIGHT  in  haste,  booted,  with  whip  in  hand. 
There  lightens  from  thy  face  a  good  report. 

KNIGHT. 
My  lord,  'tis  rumored  that  the  Maid  is  taken. 

[Stir  and  exclamations 
BEDFG-n. 

Only  a  rumor? 


SCENE  III  ]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  log 

KNIGHT. 

Yesterday,  in  Paris, 

This  rumor  lifted  from  our  hearts  their  gloom. 
Quick  mounting,  I  rode  all  the  night  to  joy 
Herewith  your  Highness.     But  the  shorter  way 
Through  Beauvais  lies  from  sieged  Compiegne.     From 

thence 
Has  nothing  come  ? 

Enter  in  haste  from  the  other  side  another  COURIER-KNIGHT. 

SECOND  KNIGHT. 

She's  taken,  she's  taken  !     These  eyes 
Saw  her  a  prisoner.     Your  royal  Highness, 
Here's  a  dispatch  from  John  of  Luxembourg, 
Count  de  Ligny,  whose  captive  she  now  is. 
In  a  bold  sortie  from  Compiegne,  her  corps 
Was  crushed,  and  she  by  a  Picard  archer  seized. 

[As  the  KNIGHT  and  the  others  carry  on  a  lively  talk,  tht 
DUKE  OF  BEDFORD  walks  aside 


'Tis  much  too  big  for  instant  measurement, 
This  new  event.     And  now  to  make  the  most 
Of  such  high-foaming  fortune.     Let  me  see. 
Ligny  will  hold  her  at  a  royal  ransom : 


I IO  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V. 

As  kings  now  go,  she's  worth  a  score  of  kings. 

The  consecration  at  historic  Rheims 

Was  worth  a  manful  army  to  the  French. 

Transformed  it  must  be  into  desecration  ; 

And  that  by  proving  her  a  sorceress. 

She  had  Charles  crowned.    Judge  her  the  Devil's  tool, 

And  he's  uncrowned  in  public  sentiment. 

The  general  feeling  is  a  mighty  power. 

The  Church  must  be  our  instrument  to  damn  her. 

We've  often  been  her  sword  :  now  she'll  be  ours. 

This  interchange  of  help  twixt  Church  and  State 

Strengthens,  for  priest  and  king,  despotic  sway. 

The  Church  once  vouched  for  her.     But  what  of  that  ? 

For  a  proportioned  end  she'll  eat  her  words 

As  glib  and  heartily  as  e'er  the  wafer. 

At  once  about  it— Gentlemen,  to-day 

Than  yesterday  we're  stronger  by  a  force 

Equal  to  fifty  thousand  men.     Come  then, 

Let's  fall  at  once  upon  the  hamstrung  foe. 

[Exeunt  all  but  CLIFFORD. 


I  am  ashamed  to  feel  the  joy  I  do. 

That  Englishmen  should  shout  and  throw  up  caps, 

Because  a  woman  is  a  prisoner  ! 

A  woman,  aye,  but  with  more  than  the  strength 


SCENE  IV.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  1 1 1 

Of  twenty  thousand  of  the  strongest  men. 
There's  something  here  not  to  be  fathomed  yet. 
By  indirections,  tools  most  seeming  slight, 
Supremest  will  oft  compasseth  great  ends. 

\Exit. 


SCENE  IV. 
Picardy.     A  room  in  the  Castle  of  the  Duke  of  Ligny. 

THE  MAID  (reclining  at  first  on  a  so/a). 

Time  leaps  along,  and  drops  cr  picks  us  up, 

As  we  had  no  more  worth  or  dignity 

Than  particles  of  dust  upon  his  feet. 

But  bits  of  dust  are  something  to  themselves 

And  neighbors  :  each  hath  life,  alliances, 

Dependencies ;  and  so  have  I,  and  warmth, 

Earth-warmth  that  hath  instinctive  shuddering  dread 

Of  being  cooled  and  quenched  untimely  soon. 

My  yearning  loves  reach  out  for  earth's  warm  children. 

I  find  fresh  mothers,  sisters,  everywhere, 

Who  would  be  loved  and  clung  to,  not  quick  snatched 

From  out  my  twining  arms.     In  these  few  weeks 

This  gentle,  tender,    radiant    Countess  Ligny 


1 12  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V. 

And  her  dear  daughter  have  so  planted  them 
Deep  in  my  heart,  'twill  be  an  agony 
To  part  me  from  them. 

Enter  the  COUNTESS  OF  LIGNY.     The  MAID  throws  herself  weep- 
ing info  her  arms. 


COUNTESS 


Still  there  is  some  hope. 

MAID. 

No,  no  :  it  must  be  as  it  is  :  it  must. 

COUNTESS. 
The  Count  will  let  the  French  King  ransom  thee. 

MAID. 

He  cannot,  dares  not :  they  are  here  too  strong. 
Enter  the  DAUGHTER  of  the  COUNTESS. 


DAUGHTER. 


Mother,  a  troop  of  horse  are  coming  hither. 
They're  still  so  far,  I  cannot  make  them  out 


They  come  for  me. 


SCENE  IV.]  THE  MAW  OF  ORLEANS.  I  I  3 

COUNTESS. 

They  shall  not  take  thee.     Oh, 
My  husband  would  not  be  so  cruel. 

MAID. 

No: 

Not  cruel,  no  :  his  hard  necessity. 
How  I  shall  miss  my  jailors.     Prisoner 
Never  had  such,  nor  chains  so  tightly  claspt,  — 
Your  heart-strings  interlinked  with  mine.     But  now 
My  strong  deliverers  are  at  hand. 

[A  bugle  heard. 
Ha!  There! 
[Clasps  her  head  with  her  hands. 

COUNTESS. 

I  know  the  sound  :  'tis  but  my  husband's  bugle. 

MAID. 
Tis  my  death-knell ! 

COUNTESS  (embracing  her) . 

They  shall  not,  shall  not  take  thee. 

MAID. 
They  will,  and  must,  and  should.     You  cannot  strike  — 


114  THE  MAID   OF  ORLEANS.  [Act  V. 

And  such  a  stroke  —  and  not  be  struck  again. 
Think  what  a  blow  to  England.    France  I've  freed: 
Aye,  freed  dear  France.     So  young,  and  yet  so  blest ! 
So  greatly  chosen,  I  must  greatly  bear. 

Enter  a  KNIGHT,  attended  by  several  troopers. 
KNIGHT. 

Madame,  I  bear  a  letter  from  the  Count. 

[Gives  a  letter. 

COUNTESS  (reads  the  letter). 
Too  true,  too  true  !     Oh  !  cruel,  cruel !     Oh  ! 


Weep  not  for  me.     When  this  our  hasty  work 
Below   is    done,    dear  lady,  we  shall  meet 
In  the  high  homes  of  heaven.     And  thou,  sweet  child, 
When  thy  grand-children,  in  the  far-off  time, 
Shall  gather  round  thy  chair,  to  hear  thee  speak 
Of  this  sad  day,  they'll  thank  and  love  thee  more, 
That  thou  wast  tender  to  the  Maid  of  Orleans. 
That  name  I've  earned,  and  with  it  earned  my  death, 
Aye,  greatly  earned  it.     So  then,  let  it  come. 
Farewell,  farewell !     We'll  meet  again.     Forward. 

[To  the  KNIGHT.    Exit. 


SCENE  V.]          THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  115 


SCENE  V. 

Rouen.     A  room  in  the  Palace  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford. 
The  DUKE  OF  BEDFORD,  CARDINAL  WINCHESTER. 


Lord  Cardinal  Winchester,  the  case  stands  thus. 
She's  doomed  to  death  by  great  necessities ; 
And  yet,  a  prisoner  of  war,  I  dare  not 
Take  openly  her  life.     The  Church  must  lend 
Fair  countenance  and  fine  machinery. 

CARDINAL. 

Your  Highness  is  like  many  servile  sinners, 
Who  in  their  flaunting  moods  scoff  at  the  Church 
And  in  extremity  entreat  her  help. 


Your  Eminence  has  reached  so  high  a  peak 

Of  holy  altitude,  all  things  below, 

Like  choughs  to  towering  eagle  in  his  sweep, 

Are  subaltern  to  one  so  close  to  heaven  ; 

And  thence  the  life  of  petty,  puny  earthling 

Hath  not  a  scruple's  weight  —  if  the  Church  needs  it. 


Il6  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V. 

CARDINAL. 

Your  Highness  speaks  deeper  than  you  do  know. 

Any,  the  richest,  highest  life  is  naught, 

Weighed  'gainst  the  weal  of  holy  Church.     This  life 

You  seek  so  hungrily,  doubly  to  me 

Is  hateful,  as  I'm  Roman  and  am  English. 

The  fine  machinery  is  ready  mounted. 

The  University  —  tutored  by  me  — 

Will  damn  her  devil's  imp,  with  strongest  say. 

The  grand  Inquisitor  sends  deputy, 

One  of  the  two  who  will  preside.     The  other, 

Cauchon,  —  a  man  so  fit  for  such  a  lead, 

Nor  coldest  earth  nor  hottest  hell  could  hatch 

A  second,  him  to  mate.     A  man  of  hates, 

Among  them  holy  hates.     Your  Highness  knows 

What  holy  hates  can  be  ? 


It  turns  me  pale 
To  think  of  them  :    I've  felt  them.     He's  a  Bishop  ? 

CARDINAL. 

Bishop  of  Beauvais  :   would  be  more.     Perhaps. 
These  two  preside :   myself  I  guide  the  trial. 
Scores  of  Assessors  there  must  be.     I've  taught 
Cauchon  how  to  appoint  them.     Is  not  this 
Prompt,  promising  ? 


SCENE  V.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS. 

BEDFORD. 

Beyond  my  hope  or  thought. 
To  work  the  wheels  of  worldly  management 
Give  me  a  topmost  churchman. 

CARDINAL. 

Little  else 

Have  we  to  do :   our  guidance  heavenward 
Is  done  by  rote,  through  men's  wide  trustfulness. 
We  then  are  one :   she  dies. 

BEDFORD. 

A  speedy  death 


CARDINAL. 

speedy,  and  by  fire 


[Exeunt. 


I  1 8  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr    V. 


SCENE  VI. 

Rouen.     ITu  Maid's  prison.      The  Maid  in   chains, 
lying  on  the  floor. 

Enter  brother  ISAMBART,  an  Augustine  Friar,  in  costume. 
ISAMBART. 

She  sleeps.     Sleep  on  :  snatch  yet  some  bliss  on  earth 
In  thy  clean  paradise  of  lustrous  dreams. 
These  with  their  mystic,  quick,  disheveled  light, 
Now  lighten  thee  through  battle's  exultations 
To  thy  far,  lowly,  holy  infancy. 

Chained,  martyred,  doomed,  there  lies  the  greatest  she 
Of  history,  —  a  goal,  towards  which,  in  distant  times, 
Men's  thoughts  shall  straining  climb  to  compass  her. 

[  The  MAID  shrieks 
What  hast  thou  ?     What  wild  pain  so  tortures  thee  ? 

MAID. 

Oh,  the  deep  agony,  to  be  awaked 
From  heaven,  and  brought  back  to  this  hell !  Oh  !  Oh ! 

ISAMBART. 

Dear  Maid,  what  fiercest  hell  can  do  thee  hurt  ? 


SCENE  VI.]        THE  MAID  OF  OKLEANS.  \  1C) 

Thou  art  an  angel  ?     This  flesh  that  yet  doth  cling 
About  thy  soul  — 

MAID  (looking  up}. 

See  there  —  they  nod  and  smile, 

As  they  avouched  thee.     Brighter  still !     Such  smiles  ! 
You  promised  me  deliverance.     O  Heaven  ! 
What  ecstasy  of  look  !     They  beckon  me  — 
And  now  they  fade,  they  mount,  smiling  and  beckoning. 

{She  fails  prostrate. 
ISAMBART. 

Rise,  rise :    This  beckoning  is  Heaven's  call  to  thee. 

\Sfie  rises  to  her  knees. 

Thy  path  is  up,  straight  up  to  them.  This  is 
The  swift  deliverance  promised. 

MAID. 

Hark !    their  song  ! 

It  thrills  me,  lifts  me,  such  a  life  there's  in  it ! 
I  come,  I  come. 

ISAMBART. 

Aye,  lifted  thou  wilt  be 

To  loftier,  livelier  life.     What  is  earth's  death  ? 
Death's  a  foul  name  given  to  the  lift  supreme : 
Its  worst,  a  momentary  pang  of  birth. 


I2O  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  |Acr  V. 

Enter  two  Priests. 

FIRST  PRIEST. 

The  High  Court  Ecclesiastical  summons  to  its  pres- 
ence Joan  of  Arc,  called  the  Maid  of  Orleans.  We 
come  to  attend  thee.  I  free  thy  limbs. 

[Removes  the  chains. 

ISAMBART. 

Father  Vincent,  give  her  some  moments  yet.. 

FIRST  PRIEST 

They  must  be  few,  good  brother  Isambart. 

[Priests  withdraw. 

MAID. 
Dear  brother  Isambart,  'tis  they  (pointing  up)    have 

sent  thee 
To  be  my  comforter. 

ISAMBART. 

.    Thy  comforter  ? 

Oh,  blessed  lot !    that  I  can  give  some  solace 
To  her  whose  being  hath  been  a  fervent  flow 
Of  sanatory  balm  to  million  souls  ; 
In  whose  great  life  there  are  such  deeps,  such  dower, 


SCENE  VI.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  121 

Her  lofty  death  will  make  sound  hearts  beat  sounder 
Through  the  long  lives  of  untold  centuries. 


Good  brother  Isambart,  thou  art  a  priest 
The  like  of  whom  I've  never-  known  till  now. 
Were  more  as  thou  art,  oh,  the  world  were  better. 

ISAMBART. 

Think  not  too  well  of  me.     When  I'm  near  thee 

I'm  brightened,  straightened,  cleansed.     Oh,  I  could 

mount 

Upon  the  sacred  pile,  and  with  thee  dare 
Thy  baffled  enemies,  and  rally  thee 
To  pardon  thy  inhuman  torturers. 

MAID. 

Come,  let  us  go  :    thou'st  made  me  strong.     I'll  beard 
The  tigers  in  their  very  den. 

ISAMBART. 

Think  not 
Too  harshly  of  them.     They're  what  they  must  be. 

MAID. 
They  cannot  harm  me. 


122  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  FACT  V 

ISAMBART. 

Harm  thee  !     Their  worst  hates, 
Revenges,  angers,  are  no  more  to  thee 
Than  shadows  of  the  transitory  storm 
To  th'  everlasting  sun's  resplendency. 

{Exeunt 


SCENE  VII. 

Rouen.    Chamber  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Court. 

A  longtable:  in  the  centre  sit  CAUCHON,  BISHOP  OF  BEAUVAIS, 
with  mitre  on,  and  the  VICAR  OF  THE  INQUISITOR,  as  chief 
judges ;  on  cither  side  of  them  ten  or  twelve  Assessors.  On  one 
side,  away  from  the  table,  BEDFORD  and  WINCHESTER  are  sealed 
together. 

BEAUVAIS. 

More  wary  we  must  be  in  questioning. 
By  sudden  subtleties  she  yesterday 
Outwitted  our  devices,  and  escaped. 

WINCHESTER. 

Let  gentlemen  keep  aye  before  their  minds 
The  function  of  this  Court,  its  purpose,  end  ; 
Which  is,  not  to  find  innocent,  but  guilty. 


SCENE  VII.]        THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  123 

AN  ASSESSOR. 

If  that's  its  end  I  cannot  be  a  member. 

[Rues. 

ANOTHER  ASSESSOR. 

Nor  I. 

[Rises. 
BEAUVAIS. 

Begone  :   make  room  for  better  men. 

[Exeunt  the  two  Assessors. 

WINCHESTER. 

Tis  well  you're  purged  of  these  two  hypocrites. 
Enter  a  PRIEST. 

PRIEST. 

The  prisoner's  at  the  door. 

BEAUVAIS. 

Let  her  come  in. 

» 
Enter  the  MAID,  ISAMBART  following  her. 

Joan,  are  you  in  a  better  mood  to-day  ? 


1 34  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V 

MAID. 

What  mood  should  be  a  woman  in,  alone, 
Allowed  no  counsel,  badgered  by  a  Court 
Packed  for  a  predetermined  doom  of  death  ? 

WINCHESTER  (rises  in  great  excitement:  to  BEAUVAIS). 
Rather  than  hear  such  contumacious  speech 
From  this  foul  throat,  tear  out  her  tongue  accursed. 

MAID  (to  WINCHESTER). 

Thy  whetted  tool  is  yet  not  sharp  enough. 
Thyself,  Lord  Cardinal,  the  peer  of  kings, 
Hidden  within  thy  soul's  dark  depths,  hast  thou 
No  single  ray  of  light,  to  beam  and  grow 
And  save  thee  from  thy  terrible  self-doom  ? 
There's  not  a  man  on  earth  who  is  pure  devil ; 
For  thou,  yes  thou,  must  die  ;  and  devils  die  not. 

WINCHESTER. 

Away  !  I'll  hear  no  more  :  I'll  hear  no  more. 

[Rushes  out.     Commotion  and  whispering  among  the  members 

of  the  Court, 

ISAMBART  (aside) 

How  she  upswings  me  high  above  myself ! 

I  shame  me  for  my  brother  priests.     Her  words 


SCENE  VII.]        THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  135 

Strike  through  them  like  the  flint's  compulsive  flash 
Through  powder,  bursting  their  cold  wrath  in  flame. 


AN   ASSESSOR. 

Sometimes,  —  I  say  not  always,  —  wast  thou  not, 
In  weaker  moments,  prompted  by  the  Evil  One? 


Power  o'er  me  he  never  had  :  no,  never. 
From  my  live  body  tear  the  flesh:  pluck  out 
The  heart  within  me :  I  will  say  naught  else. 
My  counsel  hath  been  ever  from  on  high. 

ANOTHER   ASSESSOR. 

This  is  not  right  :  this  is  not  right.     A  trial 
Conducted  thus  is  null. 

BEAUVAIS  (in  anger). 

Silence !  or  go. 

And  so  you  say  (to  the  MAID)  your  voices  were  from 
heaven  ? 


They  were,  they  are  :  for  now  I  hear  one,  and 

It  bids  me  say  to  thee  :  Bishop,  beware ! 

Thou  call'st  thyself  my  judge  :  beware  !  beware  ! 


126  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V. 

BEAUVAIS  (terrified}. 

Ha  !  dost  thou  threaten  me  ?  Dare'st  thou,  dare'st  thou  ? 
[ffe  whispers  to  an  ASSESSOR  to  question  her. 

AN   ASSESSOR. 

St.  Michael,  was  he  naked  when  you  saw  him  ? 

MAID. 

God,  hath  he  not  wherewith  to  clothe  his  own  ? 

ANOTHER  ASSESSOR. 

Believest  thou,  thou'rt  in  a  state  of  grace  ? 


If  I  am  not,  I  pray  God  make  me  so  : 
And  if  I  am,  may  I  keep  such  blessed  state. 
Wretched,  most  wretched,  I  should  deem  myself, 
If  banished  from  the  love  and  grace  of  God. 
Than  that  I'd  rather  die  a  hundred  deaths. 

[  The  members  of  the  Court  look  at  one  another  in  dismay. 
After  a  pause  and  whisper  ing,  BEAUVAIS  rises. 


The  Court's  adjourned  :  take  her  away. 

[Exit  the  MAID,  accompanied  by  the  two  priests  who  brought 
her,  ind followed  by  ISAMBART. 

[  The  scene  closes .] 


SCENE  VIII.]       THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  -  127 

SCENE   VIII. 

A  Street  in  Rouen. 

Enter,  meeting,  the  two  Assessors  who  left  the  Court 
FIRST  ASSESSOR. 

Is  it  true,  is  it  true  ? 

SECOND  ASSESSOR. 

Too  true,  too  true. 

FIRST  ASSESSOR. 

OGodf 

A  woman,  tender,  young  !  and  innocent 
As  is  the  morning  star  that  fades  to  heaven. 

SECOND   ASSESSOR. 

To  heaven  doth  she  ascend  within  an  hour. 

FIRST  ASSESSOR. 

At  this  unmanly,  fiendish  murder,  scream 

Furies  for  joy,  and  Death  holds  his  hard  sides 

At  the  rank  bloody  harvests  herewith  sown. 

'Tis  England's  work,  through  Winchester  and  Bedford, 


128  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V. 

Backed  by  the  jealous  Church  ;  and  they  have  used 
A  Frenchman's  tiger-paw  to  light  this  fire, 
To  light  with  embers  brought  from  deepest  hell. 
But  'twill  first  singe  and  then  consume  themselves. 

SECOND   ASSESSOR. 

What  a  death  !  what  a  death  ! 

FIRST  ASSESSOR. 

Her  grandeur  makes 

Sublime  that  which  her  butchers  would  have  mean. 
What  a  great  death  !     'Twill  lift  this  peasantess 
Even  above  th'  heroic  heights  she  reached 
As  the  one  warrior-Maid.     For  France  she  fought, 
And  by  great  fighting  France  she  saved  ;  now  dies, 
"  Martyr  for  France,  for  justice,  truth,  and  right  ; 
A  Bishop  for  her  murderer,  and  judges 
For  executioners  ;  by  one  great  nation 
Abandoned,  by  another  burnt  alive. 
The  nation  she  has  saved  cannot  save  her  : 
That  she  has  beaten  can  do  naught  but  kill  her.':  ] 
For  man  her  bright  ascending  figure  looms 
A  beacon  and  a  blessing  through  all  time. 

1  These  six  lines  are  a  free  translation  of  a  passage  in  an  elo- 
quent oration  delivered  by  M.  Dupanloup,  Bishop  of  Orleans,  on 
the  inauguration  of  a  statue  to  the  Maid  at  Orleans,  May  8,  1856. 


SCENE  IX.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS-  1 29 

A    fearful    but  most  sacred  duty's  left  : 
To  see  her  once  again,  as  she  shall  pass 
To  the  dread  place  of  immolation.     Shall 
We  go? 

SECONI>  ASSESSOR. 

Ready  am  I  to  go  with  you. 

[Extant. 


SCENE  IX. 

Public  Square  in  Rouen.  In  the  rear  a  pile  prepared. 
Soldiers  around  it.  On  either  side  of  the  pile,  elevated 
platforms ;  on  one  are  seated  the  Bishop  of  Beauvais, 
the  Inquisitor's  Vicar,  and  the  Assessors,  on  the  other 
Cardinal  Winchester  and  several  Bishops  ;  Beauvais, 
Winchester,  and  the  Bishops  in  robes  and  mitres  ; 
below  a  motley  crowd  of  people. 

Enter  the  two  Assessors. 

FIRST   ASSESSOR. 

Oh  what  a  spectacle  !     Heaven  surely  hath 
Far  aims,  permitting  such  a  deed  as  this. 
Look  there  :  that's  the  bad  ruthless  Cardinal. 
To  do  their  proper  function,  prelates  should 
9 


1 30  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  [ACT  V 

Have  happier,  holier  thoughts  than  other  men, 

Fresh  pulses  from  th'  eternal  love  creative  : 

What  thoughts  are  theirs  who  sit  in  highest  place 

To  judge  and  burn  a  maiden  innocent? 

In  this  black  nook,  —  shifted  to  earth  from  hell, — 

Great  Cardinal  Winchester  is  ministering  devil. 

Are  heaven's  sluices  locked,  that  they  ope  not 

To  shower,  from  streaming  eyes  of  cherubim, 

A  flood  of  tears,  and  drown  this  wickedness  ? 

Oh,  the  blind  arrogance  of  men,  that  they 

Would  browbeat  God.    They  snatch  his  mighty  sceptre  ; 

Then  venture  willfully  to  wield  what  is 

So  laden  with  omnipotence,  a  turn, 

The  slightest,  from  its  flashing  rectitude, 

Frights  planets  in  their  courses,  and  a  wrench 

In  human  governance  springs  a  rebound 

That  fells  the  puny  wielders  to  the  damned. 

SECOND  ASSESSOR. 

See  there  :  she  comes,  she  comes. 

FIRST  ASSESSOR. 

A  burst  of  light ! 

At  such  approach  should  not  this  darkness  flee, 
Evanishing  like  gloom  before  the  dawn  ? 


SCENE  IX.]  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  131 

Enter  the  MAID  ;  on  either  side  of  her,  brothers  ISAM  BAR  r   and 
MARTIN  ;  soldiers  following. 

Bishops  sink  out  of  sight :  be  seen  no  more ! 


MAID. 

O  Rouen,  Rouen  !  must  I  die  then  here  ? 

ISAMBART. 

No  :  thou  shall  not :  thou  wilt  not,  can'st  not  die. 
There  is  no  death.  Thou  art  brought  here  to  be 
Released  from  earth,  in  one  strong  moment's  pang. 

MAID. 

Thou  say's t  aright :  'tis  so  :  thou  say'st  aright. 

ISAMBART. 

The  earth  is  dark,  but  heaven  is  alight 

With  love,  that  angels  may  behold  and  cheer, 

Then  greet  and  welcome  thee. 

Enter  hurriedly  OVSELEUR,  and  throws  himself  at  her  feet. 


Thou  injured  one  ! 

Forgive,  forgive  me,  oh,  forgive  me,  angel ! 
False,  false,  I've  been  to  thee.     Canst  pardon  me 
My  perfidy,  my  base  deceit  ? 


132  THE  MAID  Of  ORLEANS.  [Acr  V 

MAID. 

Rise  up, 

False  Oyseleur.     Hast  thou  washed  deep  thy  heart 
In  warm  repentance  ? 

OYSELEUR. 

Oh,  I  have,  I  have. 

MAID. 

Then  go  in  peace :    God  will  forgive  thee,  too. 

[A  SOLDIER  seizes  OYSELEUR. 

SOLDIER. 
Away,  begone  ! 

[T/imsts  OYSELEUR  out. 

BEAUVAIS. 

Joan,  it  is  not  yet  too  late. 
Confess  here,  publicly,  thy  voices  were 
From  demons,  and  thou  shalt  not  mount  the  pile. 

MAID. 

I  cannot  say  what  is  not.     I  believe,  — 
Nay,  nay,  I  know  my  voices  were  from  God. 
Angels  hover  incessant  near  to  us, 
Peopling  corporeal  air  with  spiritual  life. 


SCENE  IX.]         THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  \  33 

Heaven  enfolds  the  earth  :    from  birth  till  death 

We're  breathed  on  by  the  breath  of  viewless  friends, 

Whose  eyes  caress  us  with  benignant  smiles. 

The  world  of  spirits  and  the  world  of  man 

Are  one,  held  soul  to  soul  by  mutual  links. 

Not  one  here,  —  no,  not  one,  —  but  over  him 

Hang  angels,  ready,  at  his  cordial  will, 

To  aid  him  cleanse  his  soul :  the  channel  this 

Of  the  Almighty's  prescient  ministry. 

Now,  Heavenly  Father,  give  me  strength.     And  ye, 

My  brothers,  help  me  with  your  prayers. 

\She  ascends  the  pile,  accompanied  by  brother  MARTIN. 

A  VOICE  (from  the  judges'"  platform}. 

Executioner,  do  your  duty. 

[  The  executioner  ties  her  to  the  stake,  and  then  descends  and 

lights  the  fire, 

MAID 

Bishop  of  Beauvais,  this  day's  work  is  thine. 
Thee  I  forgive  :    may  God :    man  never  will. 

[  The  BISHOP  covers  his  face  jaith  his  hands,  in  agony.  The 
flame  and  smoke  rise,  brother  MARTIN  still  on  his  knees 
beside  her. 

MAID. 

Go  down,  go  down,  good  brother. 

["//<•  slmnly  desffttds. 


1 34  THE  MAID  OF  ORLEANS.  I  ACT  V 

FIRST  .ASSESSOR. 

How  terrible,  how  damnable,  but  how 

Sublime  is  this  dread  sight.     Think  that  you  saw 

The  risen  sun  quick  quenched  in  howling  darkness. 

MAID  (behind  the  smoke,  with  piercing  cry). 

Jesus !     Jesus ! 

An  English  KNIGHT  rushes  from  the  crmvd,  with  hands  uplifted. 

KNIGHT. 

We're    lost,   we're   lost !     Doomed,   doomed !      We've 

burnt  a  saint ! 
We  shall  be  driven  out  of  France —  driven  out. 

[Above  the  smoke  the  MAID  is  seen  to  ascend,  stretching  out 
her  hands  in  attitude  of  blessing.     Angels  just  over  her. 

See  there,  see  :    for  the  death  we  give  to  her, 
She  gives  to  us  the  life  of  her  high  blessing, 

[Falls  on  his  knees. 

As  she  ascends  to  her  great  place  in  heaven. 

[Others  similarly  touched,  fall  on  their  knees,  some  prostrate, 
exclaiming,  — 

O  God  !  have  mercy  on  us !  mercy,  mercy  ! 

|  The  curtain  falls.} 


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